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Category: Asia

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Malawi Secures Gains Against Polio, Strengthens Health Systems for the Future


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    As Malawi celebrates its first anniversary after officially closing its reimported wild poliovirus (WPV1) outbreak, the country is taking strategic steps to sustain hard-won gains and strengthen its broader health system. On 24 April 2025, health leaders, partners, and stakeholders gathered for the National Polio Transition Planning meeting, an important milestone in ensuring that the infrastructure built to eradicate polio continues to serve Malawi’s communities for years to come.

    From Polio Response to Long-Term Resilience

    Polio resources – from trained personnel to disease surveillance systems-have played a key role in emergency health responses across Malawi. The transition planning process aims to protect these assets and ensure their integration into the national health system. In line with the Polio Transition Strategic Framework, Malawi’s plan supports national ownership of essential polio functions, including surveillance, immunization, and outbreak response.

    “Transitioning from GPEI support means we must strengthen our ability to manage core functions nationally. This is vital to keep Malawi polio-free and improve our capacity to detect and respond to other vaccine-preventable diseases,” said Dr. Patrick Wataya Chirwa, Chair of the National Certification Committee.

    In May 2020, Malawi (alongside the rest of the African Region) was certified free of indigenous wild poliovirus. However, the detection of a reimported case from Southern Asia in 2022 served as a powerful reminder that polio remains a global threat. Malawi’s health authorities responded swiftly and decisively, successfully interrupting transmission by May 2024.

    By January 2025, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) had classified the country as low-risk on its global polio watchlist—a testament to Malawi’s strong response and surveillance systems.

    However, maintaining that status means planning for the future. As external polio funding declines, Malawi must close gaps in workforce and financing. The Polio Transition Plan will help secure critical capacities and align them with the Ministry of Health-led Immunization Programme, reinforcing the country’s ability to prevent and respond to outbreaks.

    Sarah Wanyoike, from WHO AFRO’s Eastern and Southern Africa inter-country support team, highlighted how lessons from Malawi’s recent outbreak response can shape a stronger, more resilient health system. “We must integrate service delivery and strengthen surveillance across the board—not just for polio, but for all vaccine-preventable diseases,” she said.

    The plan focuses on optimizing existing systems, integrating surveillance efforts, and building multisectoral collaboration, linking immunization, emergency preparedness, One Health approaches, and community engagement.

    At the meeting, Dr. Neema Kimambo, WHO Representative to Malawi, emphasized that the transition is not just a health sector responsibility. It requires cross-cutting collaboration among government agencies, local health authorities, partners, and civil society.

    “Malawi’s success will depend on strong coordination between the Ministry of Health, EPI, the Public Health Institute of Malawi, district councils, health partners, NGOs, and communities themselves,” Dr. Kimambo noted.

    These efforts aim to ensure that the systems and knowledge built through the polio programme continue to benefit Malawians, supporting everything from emergency response to routine immunization and disease surveillance.

    Malawi’s National Polio Transition Plan is a blueprint not only for sustaining polio eradication efforts but also for advancing universal health coverage and equity. As the country moves from emergency response to long-term resilience, WHO and partners remain committed to supporting a smooth and sustainable transition—helping Malawi stay polio-free and healthier for generations to come.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) – Malawi.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Departure Statement by Prime Minister on the eve of visit to Ghana, Trinidad & Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia


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    Today, I embark on a five-nation visit to Ghana, Trinidad & Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia from 2 to 9 July 2025.

    At the invitation of President H.E. John Dramani Mahama, I will visit Ghana on 2-3 July. Ghana is a valued partner in the Global South and plays an important role in the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States. I look forward to my exchanges aimed at further deepening our historical ties and opening up new windows of cooperation, including in the areas of investment, energy, health, security, capacity building and development partnership. As fellow democracies, it will be an honour to speak at the Parliament of Ghana.

    On 3-4 July, I will be in the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago, a country with which we share deep-rooted historical, cultural and people-to-people connect. I will meet President H.E. Mrs. Christine Carla Kangaloo, who was the Chief Guest at this year’s Pravasi Bhartiya Divas, and Prime Minister H.E. Mrs. Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who has recently assumed office for the second term. Indians first arrived in Trinidad and Tobago 180 years ago. This visit will provide an opportunity to rejuvenate the special bonds of ancestry and kinship that unite us.

    From Port of Spain, I will travel to Buenos Aires. This will be the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Argentina in 57 years. Argentina is a key economic partner in Latin America and a close collaborator in the G20. I look forward to my discussions with President H.E. Javier Milei, whom I also had the pleasure of meeting last year. We will focus on advancing our a mutually beneficial cooperation, including in the areas of agriculture, critical minerals, energy, trade, tourism, technology, and investment.

    I will attend the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro on 6-7 July. As a founding member, India is committed to BRICS as a vital platform for cooperation among emerging economies. Together, we strive for a more peaceful, equitable, just, democratic and balanced multipolar world order. On the sidelines of the Summit, I will also meet several world leaders. I will travel to Brasilia for a bilateral State Visit, the first by an Indian Prime Minister in nearly six decades. This visit will provide an opportunity to strengthen our close partnership with Brazil, and work with my friend, President H.E. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, on advancing the priorities of the Global South.

    My final destination will be Namibia, a trusted partner with whom we share a common history of struggle against colonialism. I look forward to meeting President H.E. Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and chart a new roadmap for cooperation for the benefit of our peoples, our regions and the wider Global South. It will be a privilege to also address the Joint Session of Namibian Parliament as we celebrate our enduring solidarity and shared commitment for freedom and development.

    I am confident that my visits to the five countries will reinforce our bonds friendship across the Global South, strengthen our partnerships on both sides of the Atlantic, and deepen engagements in the multilateral platforms such as BRICS, the African Union, ECOWAS and the CARICOM.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of External Affairs – Government of India.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • India’s ETF AUM grows over 5 times in 5 years, retail investor folios jump 11-fold: Report

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India’s Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) have seen tremendous growth over the last five years, with total Assets Under Management (AUM) rising more than five times and retail investor folios increasing eleven-fold, a new report said on Wednesday.

    The total AUM of ETFs in India grew nearly 5.5 times between March 2020 and March 2025, according to a new report released by Zerodha Fund House.

    By the end of this period, ETFs accounted for Rs 8.38 lakh crore, making up around 13 per cent of the overall Rs 65.74 lakh crore mutual fund industry.

    In comparison, ETFs held only a 7 per cent share in 2020. This shows the growing popularity of ETFs as an investment option in the country.

    The number of retail folios in ETF schemes also saw massive growth — from just over 23 lakh in March 2020 to about 2.63 crore in March 2025.

    Retail investors now make up more than 97 per cent of all ETF folios — reflecting a sharp rise in awareness and trust in ETFs among common investors.

    “This study highlights the new era for Indian ETFs, marked by surging retail participation and expanding product diversity reflected in higher resultant volumes,” Vishal Jain, CEO, Zerodha Fund House said.

    The retail AUM itself has more than tripled in this five-year period, growing from Rs 5,335 crore to over Rs 17,800 crore.

    The total number of ETF offerings has also increased nearly threefold during this time.

    New products, including commodity ETFs like silver-backed funds introduced in 2022, have expanded the choices available to investors.

    Equity ETFs continue to dominate, with nearly 80 per cent of the total ETF AUM consistently coming from equity-linked instruments since 2020.

    The trading activity in ETFs has also grown rapidly. The trading volume rose from Rs 51,101 crore in FY 2019-20 to Rs 3.83 lakh crore in FY 2024-25 — a more than sevenfold jump.

    Notably, the volume more than doubled just in the last one year, pointing to growing liquidity and investor interest, as per the report.

    (IANS)

  • What is the trust that will identify the Dalai Lama’s successor?

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Dalai Lama said on Wednesday his Gaden Phodrang Trust would have the sole authority to recognise his future reincarnation, rejecting any role for China in choosing who succeeds him as the spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhists.

    WHAT IS THE GADEN PHODRANG TRUST?

    The non-profit was registered in 2011 in the northern Indian town of Dharamshala, where the Dalai Lama is based. Its members include the Dalai Lama, senior monk Samdhong Rinpoche and close aides who work in the Dalai Lama’s office in Dharamshala.

    The Dalai Lama heads the trust and its “alternate chairperson”, or the second highest official, is Rinpoche, who Tibetans believe to be the reincarnation of a previous high monk. All its members must be based in India.

    The Dalai Lama and many other Tibetans fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule.

    He has since called for a “middle-way approach” that does not seek Tibet’s independence from China but demands autonomy for Tibetans to protect and preserve their culture, religion and national identity.

    WHAT DOES THE TRUST DO?

    At the moment, the organisation’s main job is to support the Dalai Lama’s spiritual and humanitarian work. The Dalai Lama said in an address to a religious conference on Wednesday that members of the trust should consult the various heads of Tibetan Buddhist traditions and other senior religious figures to “carry out the procedures of search and recognition in accordance with past tradition”.

    In 2011, he said that he would leave “clear written instructions about this”, but Rinpoche said on Wednesday that the Dalai Lama had not yet done so because he was in good health and had promised to live for many more years.

    The Dalai Lama will celebrate his 90th birthday on July 6. He told Reuters in December he could live until he is 110.

    ARE THERE OTHER DALAI LAMA NON-PROFITS?

    There is another Gaden Phodrang non-profit in the Swiss city of Zurich. It also carries out various projects on behalf of the Dalai Lama, is headed by the Dalai Lama and has his aides as its members.

    Its job is to “maintain and support the tradition and institution of the Dalai Lama with regard to the religious and spiritual duties of the Dalai Lama”, it says on its website.

    The Dalai Lama Trust is a charitable wing of the Dalai Lama’s office in Dharamshala.

    (Reuters)

  • Trump’s ceasefire statement raises hopes in Gaza as Israel presses on with attacks

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Word from U.S. President Donald Trump that Israel has agreed to the conditions needed to finalise a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza raised hopes on Wednesday in the enclave, where health officials said at least 20 people had been killed in Israeli attacks.

    A “final” proposal would be delivered by the mediators, Qatar and Egypt, to Hamas, Trump said in a social media post on Tuesday, after what he described as a “long and productive” meeting between his representatives and Israeli officials.

    Gazans said even a temporary pause would bring relief.

    “I hope it would work this time, even if for two months, it would save thousands of innocent lives,” Kamal, a resident of Gaza City, said by phone.

    There is growing public pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reach a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and end the nearly two-year-long war, a move strongly opposed by hardline members of his right-wing ruling coalition.

    Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar wrote on X on Wednesday that a majority within the coalition government would back an agreement that would see the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas militants in Gaza.

    “If there is an opportunity to do so – we must not miss it!”, he wrote on X. Of 50 hostages still held, around 20 are believed to be still alive.

    For Gazans, who have fled multiple times and face daily struggles to find food 21 months into Israel’s military campaign, the statements provided a glimmer of hope.

    “Everyone is hopeful that it would work this time, there is no room for more failures, every day more costs us our lives,” said Tamer Al-Burai, a businessman.

    “We are living the most difficult days. People want an end to the war, an end to the starvation and humiliation.”

    There was no immediate official comment by either Israel or Hamas to Trump’s latest statement on the progress of the plan.

    “Israel has agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize the 60 Day CEASEFIRE, during which time we will work with all parties to end the War,” Trump’s statement said, without specifying the conditions.

    IRAN LINK

    The U.S. president appeared to be seeking to use any momentum from U.S. and Israeli strikes on nuclear sites in Iran and a recently agreed ceasefire in that conflict to put pressure on Hamas, which is backed by Tehran. Israeli leaders also believe that, with Iran weakened by last month’s 12-day war, other countries in the region have an opportunity to forge ties with Israel.

    A Hamas official declined immediate comment on Trump’s statement. A source close to the group said leaders of the Islamist faction were expected to debate the proposal and seek clarifications from mediators before giving an official response.

    At the end of May, Hamas had said it was seeking amendments to a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal, which Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff said was “totally unacceptable.”

    That proposal had involved a 60-day ceasefire and the release of half the hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and the remains of other Palestinians; Hamas would release the remaining hostages as part of a deal that guarantees the end of the war.

    Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid wrote on X on Wednesday that his party could provide the government with a safety net if hardline members of the Israeli cabinet opposed a deal, effectively pledging not to back a no-confidence motion in parliament that could topple the government.

    Gaza health authorities said Israeli gunfire and military strikes killed at least 20 Palestinians in separate attacks in north and southern areas, and the Israeli military ordered more evacuations late on Tuesday.

    In response to questions from Reuters about the reports, the Israeli military stated that its operations aimed to dismantle Hamas’ military capabilities and mitigate civilian harm, without commenting on specific incidents.

    The war began when Hamas fighters stormed into Israel on October 7, 2023, killed 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and took 251 hostages back to Gaza in a surprise attack that led to Israel’s single deadliest day.

    Israel’s subsequent military assault has killed more than 56,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to the Gaza health ministry, displaced almost the whole 2.3 million population and plunged the enclave into a humanitarian crisis.

    More than 80% of the territory is now an Israeli-militarized zone or under displacement orders, according to the UN.

    (Reuters)

  • What’s in the Republican tax and spending plan?

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Republican-controlled Congress on Wednesday could pass a sweeping budget package that would fulfill many of President Donald Trump’s priorities. It has already passed the Senate and needs to be approved again by the House of Representatives before Trump can sign it into law.

    Here is a summary of the major elements of the package, with cost and savings estimates by the Congressional Budget Office or the Joint Committee on Taxation when available.

    CBO estimates the bill would add $3.3 trillion to the $36.2-trillion debt over 10 years, reduce revenues by $4.5 trillion and cut spending by $1.2 trillion. The number of people without health insurance would increase by 10.9 million over that period due to changes to programs such as Medicaid.

    INDIVIDUAL TAX CUTS

    • Makes permanent the lower income tax rates in Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that are currently due to expire at the end of 2025 (Cost: $2.2 trillion)

    • Extends the standard deduction. (Cost: $1.4 trillion)

    • Extends and expands the alternative minimum tax exemption. (Cost: $1.4 trillion)

    • Expands the Child Tax Credit to $2,200 and indexes to inflation. (Cost: $817 billion)

    • Raises the estate tax exemption to $15 million. (Cost: $212 billion)

    • Exempts taxes on overtime pay until 2029. (Cost: $90 billion)

    • Exempts taxes on some tipped income until 2029. (Cost: $32 billion)

    • Creates a new deduction of up to $6,000 for people age 65 and older until 2029

    • Creates a tax break for some interest payments on auto loans until 2029. (Cost: $31 billion)

    • New tax-advantaged savings accounts for newborns. (Cost: $15 billion)

    • Expands deduction for state and local tax (SALT) payments from $10,000 to $40,000 until 2029

    • Exempts up to $1,700 for contributions to scholarship funds for private schools (Cost: $26 billion)

    BUSINESS TAX BREAKS

    • Extends and increases a tax break for owners of “pass-through” businesses, such as sole proprietorships and LLCs (Cost: $737 billion)

    • Full expensing for business equipment purchases (Cost: $363 billion)

    • Full expensing of business research and development costs (Cost: $141 billion)

    • Expands tax break for business interest expenses (Cost: $61 billion)

    OTHER TAX CHANGES

    • Raises taxes on the biggest private university endowments from 1.4% to 21% (New revenue: $761 million)

    • Imposes a new 1% tax on funds sent by immigrants to their home countries (New revenue: $10 billion)

    • Eliminates taxes on firearm silencers (Cost: $1.7 billion)

    • Gives the government power to strip tax exempt status from organizations found to be “terrorist supporting”

    MEDICAID AND OTHER HEALTH PROGRAMS

    Total savings: $1.1 trillion

    • Requires able-bodied adults who have no dependents to work, volunteer or be in school at least 80 hours a month starting in 2027

    • Bolsters eligibility verification measures for participants and healthcare providers and removes rules that make it easier to enroll

    • Excludes some non-citizens from the program and penalizes states that use their own funds to provide coverage to them

    • Blocks regulations that required minimum staffing levels at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities

    • Prohibits funding for gender transition therapies for minors

    • Prohibits payments to large providers like Planned Parenthood that specialize in birth control, abortion and other reproductive health services

    • Limits state “provider taxes” that are used to raise the federal government’s contribution

    • Adds $50 billion to rural providers to help offset the loss of revenue from the provider-tax limitation

    • Imposes stricter eligibility requirements for Affordable Care Act exchange insurance coverage

    ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT, COMMUNICATIONS

    • Repeals grant programs for purchasing electric heavy-duty vehicles

    • Repeals grants to reduce air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions

    • Creates incentives for pipelines, natural gas exports and exploration

    • Ends tax breaks for electric vehicles

    • Ends tax breaks for clean electricity and green energy

    • Restricts incentives for nuclear power

    • Cancels funding for green-energy grant programs in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, including vehicle manufacturing, home efficiency upgrades, electricity transmission and wind power

    • Weakens enforcement of fuel-efficiency standards for automobiles and pickup trucks

    • Makes more electromagnetic communication spectrum bands available for auction

    IMMIGRATION AND JUSTICE

    Total cost: $178 billion

    • Provides money for border wall construction

    • Funds surveillance towers, drones and other border-security equipment

    • Increases staffing for immigration enforcement, border control and immigration courts

    • Increases detention capacity for immigration enforcement

    • Increases law enforcement protection of the president

    • Adds funding to investigate visa fraud and other immigration-related crimes

    • Imposes new fees of up to $5,000 for immigrants’ work permits, court hearings, applications for asylum and other matters

    • Reimburses states for border-security costs

    • Allows courts to require plaintiffs to post a bond when they sue to block government policies

    MILITARY

    Total cost: $153 billion

    • Increases spending on shipbuilding

    • Adds funds for air and missile defense

    • Pays for munitions, nuclear weapons

    • Funds military operations to assist with border security

    FOOD ASSISTANCE

    Total savings: $186 billion

    • Increases work requirements for some of the 41 million participants in the SNAP food aid program

    • Shift some costs from federal government to states

    • Bars some noncitizens from benefits

    EDUCATION

    • Changes student loan repayment plans (Savings: $287 billion)

    • Imposes borrowing limits for some student loan programs (Savings: $51 billion)

    • Limits the government’s ability to cancel student debt (Savings: $18 billion)

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI: Chicken Road Game India 2025 Announce – Play This Trending Game and Win Real Money

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York City, July 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    India and its people are famous for tracking down their fun and making the most out of what they have got. Indian crowd loves online games, and one game is stealing this show, none other than the Chicken Road. It’s a super fun, simple game where a cartoon chicken runs across a dangerous path.

    >>> Learn More About Chicken Road Game >>>

    The Chicken Road game was launched on April 4, 2024, by InOut Games. This game is a hit because it’s easy to play, works on phones, and gives you a chance to win big. In this game, players will be dealing with a silly chicken that dodge traps while deciding whether to grab your money or keep going for more. 
    In this article, we’ll explain what Chicken Road is, why Indians love it, how to play, and what it means for gaming in India.

    >>> Learn More About Chicken Road Game >>>

    What Is Chicken Road?

    Chicken Road is a game that asks, “Why did the chicken cross the road?” The answer: to win you cash obviously. This game is made by InOut Games. It is a company with a gaming license from Curacao. 

    >>> Learn More About Chicken Road Game >>>

    Chicken Road game is a  “crash-style” game. You bet money here, and watch the chicken run across a path that is full of traps like fire or holes, and decide when to stop and take your winnings. Each step the chicken takes makes your prize bigger, but if it hits a trap, then you will lose it all in a single second.

    The game has four levels:

    • Easy: 24 steps, very small chance of losing, and prizes up to 24.5x your bet.
    • Medium: A bit harder, and bigger rewards.
    • Hard: More risk, and obviously even bigger prizes.
    •  Hardcore: 15 steps, super risky, but you could win up to ₹1,810,000 on a ₹16,500 bet.

    The game is fair and legal with a 98% chance of giving back some money to players.

    How to Download Chicken Road India?

    You can download Chicken Road easily on your phone or play it online. These are the different platforms.

    You can download the Chicken road game on mobile phones as: 

    • Google Play Store: Search “Chicken Road” for arcade versions. 
    • TapTap: Download the latest APK for Android.
    •  APKPure: A safe place to get the APK file for Android phones.

    If you aren’t planning on downloading then you can play on Casino Websites:

    • Visit licensed online casinos partnered with InOut Games to play the real-money version.
    •  No app is needed.

    There are also official website for you to play on:

    • Check chickenroad.in or chicken-road.com for download links or free demo modes.

    Why Indians Love Chicken Road Game?

    Do you know that India has over 500 million smartphone users? And do you know what runs best on these phones? Obviously, Chicken Road game.This game is perfect for them. The following are the reasons why indians love it more:

    • Works on Any Phone: You don’t need a fancy phone or fast internet. The game is light and needs only 26.2 MB if you download it and runs smoothly on 4G or even 3G. You can play it on a bus, at home, or anywhere.
    • Super Easy to Play: Pick a bet that can go as low as ₹1, then choose a level, and then finally tap “Go.” The chicken starts running, and you can tap “Cash Out” when you want to stop. The funny chicken and goofy animations will definitely make you laugh.
    • Made for India: You can bet in rupees, and feel just at home. There are casinos like 1Win or Pin-Up that give special bonuses, like some extra money when you deposit. The game also has a silly story that feels like an Indian cartoon or joke.
    • Bragging and Winning: Players love chasing the “Golden Egg Jackpot” or setting high scores. They share wins on WhatsApp or Instagram. You can also try it free in demo mode before betting real money.

    How to Play and Win?

    Chicken Road is played with a big blend of luck, and smart thinking. It’s fair because you can check if each round is honest using special codes. 

    How It Works:

    • Pick a bet from ₹1 to ₹16,500.
    • Choose a level from the options of Easy, Medium, Hard, or Hardcore.
    • Tap “Go” to start the chicken’s run.
    • Each step raises the prize multiplier.
    • Tap “Cash Out” to keep your money.
    • Or just keep going for a bigger prize. 
    • The chicken will lose if it hits a trap.

    Chicken Road: Tips to Win:

    • Start Easy: Try Easy or Medium mode first when you are playing as a beginner or just playing casually.
    • Bet Small: Start with ₹100 or ₹500. If you win, bet a bit more next time. Don’t bet all your money.
    • Cash Out Early: Try stoping at 2x–5x in easy mode for small, steady wins. In Hard or Hardcore, you might wait longer, but it’s risky.
    • Practice Free: Use demo mode to test when to cash out without losing money.
    • Be Smart: Don’t chase losses. Set a budget, like ₹500 a day, and stop when it’s gone.

    How to Sign Up for Chicken Road Casino India?

    You can start playing this game by following the steps below.

    • Choose a Trusted Casino: Choose a licensed platform that offers Chicken Road and supports INR and UPI payments.
    • Go to the Website/App: Visit the casino’s official site or app and find the “Sign Up” button.
    • Select Registration Option: You can now sign up using your email, phone number, or social media.
    • Enter Basic Details: Just fill in the personal info that is asked for on the form. Also, create a secure password.
    • Verify and Play: Confirm your account via email/SMS, deposit funds, and search for Chicken Road to start playing.

    Is Chicken Road Legal in India?

    Chicken Road app is safe and legal in most Indian states. The only exceptions in this case are Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. Gambling laws of these states are stricter and does not allow online gambling. The gme also has Curacao license and fair-play technology to make sure that there is trust and reliability.

    • Age Limit: Players must be 18 or older.
    • ID Check: KYC verification needed for real-money play.
    • Play Responsibly: Use bet limits or timers to stay in control.
    • Secure Payments: Supports trusted apps like UPI.
    • Help Available: Email or app chat for support.

    Chicken Road Game: Terms and Conditions

    • The Goal: You have to get that chicken to the golden egg while stepping up multipliers.
    • Betting Options: You can start small with ₹1 or go all-in with ₹16,500.
    • Multipliers: These multipliers grow with each step. The minimal level is from a modest x1.02 in Easy Mode to a surprising x3,203,384.80 in Hard Mode.
    • Cash-Out Freedom: You can hit the cash-out button whenever you’re ready to take out your winnings.
    • Fair Play: The game uses blockchain technology to prove every round is legitimate. You can check “My Bet History” to see for yourself.

    Conclusion

    Chicken Road Game in India is winning hearts and hearts. You shouldn’t wait out on this jackpot opportunity that does not require a resume of gambling for making millions by the day. It’s fun, cheap to play, and works for everyone, from students to office workers. Its mix of laughs, risks, and rewards makes it feel like an Indian festival. 

    The game is full of excitement and surprises. If you are planning to play it safe with small bets or going big for the jackpot, then Chicken Road is a wild adventure for you.

    Company Name – Chicken Road
    Address – 673, JMD Building, Gurugram, Haryana
    Company Website: https://chicken-roadd.com/
    Email: sumit@chicken-roadd.com
    Phone: +91-2049157035
    Contact Person Name: Sumit

    Disclaimer
    This information is for general and entertainment purposes only—not legal, financial, or gambling advice. Always verify details and follow your local laws. Gambling carries risks; wager responsibly and only what you can afford to lose, and seek help if you feel out of control. Some links may be affiliate links at no extra cost to you, and wild may be unavailable or restricted in certain regions.

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: From risk to resilience: Unlocking SDG progress through DRR

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Venue

    United Nations Headquarters, Conference Room 8

    Organizers

     Co-chairs of the Group of Friends of Disaster Risk Reduction (Permanent Missions of Australia, Indonesia, Norway and Peru), the Permanent Mission of Switzerland and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction

    Time

    1:15 – 2:45pm

    Background

    As the 2030 Agenda enters the final stretch for implementation with only 17% of the SDGs on track, the escalating impact of disasters continues to jeopardize progress, and threatens to reverse hard-won development gains. From 2015 to 2023, direct economic loss worldwide has been reported to exceed US$ 1.1 trillion in total1, with an even higher toll in terms of human lives as well as economic, social and environmental impacts. Recent Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) and the 2025 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), have highlighted both the obstacles and opportunities for a risk-informed approach to sustainable development.

    This side event will delve into the key takeaways from the Global Platform for DRR, revealing priorities for the effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Using insights from the VNRs, the event will also explore practical ways to strengthen the coherence between sustainable development and disaster risk reduction.

    The discussion will focus on advancing next steps to strengthen national and international disaster risk reduction efforts in an evolving risk landscape. It will spotlight transformative actions and accelerated solutions, building on the main findings and calls to action from the Geneva Call for Disaster Risk Reduction and the 2025 ECOSOC High-Level Political Forum.

    Join us for a dynamic and insightful session to contribute to and learn from the global efforts to build resilience and achieve the SDGs.

    Programme

    Moderator: Ms. Laurel Patterson, Strategic Partnerships and Communications Director, UNDP Crisis Bureau

    Fireside chat: Learnings from the Global Platform Key takeaways from Global Platform to accelerate SDG implementation

    • Mr. Christian Frutiger, Assistant Director General and Head of Thematic Cooperation, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Switzerland
    • Mr. Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of UNDRR

    Panel: Building a strong evidence base for DRR and resilience Insights from VNRs and future pathways for implementation

    • Three countries presenting on their integration of DRR in the VNRs

    Open Discussion

    Closing Remarks: Co-Chair of the Group of Friends on Disaster Risk Reduction

    This event is open to all participants registered for the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF 2025) and to those holding a valid UN grounds pass.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: From risk to resilience: Unlocking SDG progress through DRR

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Venue

    United Nations Headquarters, Conference Room 8

    Organizers

     Co-chairs of the Group of Friends of Disaster Risk Reduction (Permanent Missions of Australia, Indonesia, Norway and Peru), the Permanent Mission of Switzerland and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction

    Time

    1:15 – 2:45pm

    Background

    As the 2030 Agenda enters the final stretch for implementation with only 17% of the SDGs on track, the escalating impact of disasters continues to jeopardize progress, and threatens to reverse hard-won development gains. From 2015 to 2023, direct economic loss worldwide has been reported to exceed US$ 1.1 trillion in total1, with an even higher toll in terms of human lives as well as economic, social and environmental impacts. Recent Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) and the 2025 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), have highlighted both the obstacles and opportunities for a risk-informed approach to sustainable development.

    This side event will delve into the key takeaways from the Global Platform for DRR, revealing priorities for the effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Using insights from the VNRs, the event will also explore practical ways to strengthen the coherence between sustainable development and disaster risk reduction.

    The discussion will focus on advancing next steps to strengthen national and international disaster risk reduction efforts in an evolving risk landscape. It will spotlight transformative actions and accelerated solutions, building on the main findings and calls to action from the Geneva Call for Disaster Risk Reduction and the 2025 ECOSOC High-Level Political Forum.

    Join us for a dynamic and insightful session to contribute to and learn from the global efforts to build resilience and achieve the SDGs.

    Programme

    Moderator: Ms. Laurel Patterson, Strategic Partnerships and Communications Director, UNDP Crisis Bureau

    Fireside chat: Learnings from the Global Platform Key takeaways from Global Platform to accelerate SDG implementation

    • Mr. Christian Frutiger, Assistant Director General and Head of Thematic Cooperation, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Switzerland
    • Mr. Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of UNDRR

    Panel: Building a strong evidence base for DRR and resilience Insights from VNRs and future pathways for implementation

    • Three countries presenting on their integration of DRR in the VNRs

    Open Discussion

    Closing Remarks: Co-Chair of the Group of Friends on Disaster Risk Reduction

    This event is open to all participants registered for the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF 2025) and to those holding a valid UN grounds pass.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: The Pula appreciated by 2 percent against the South African rand

    Source: Bank of Botswana

    Over the one-month period to June 2025, the Pula appreciated by 2 percent against the South African rand, while it depreciated by 0.5 percent against the SDR. It depreciated by 2.5 percent against the euro and 1.1 percent against the British pound, while it appreciated 0.8 percent each against the US dollar and the Japanese yen and 0.4 percent against the Chinese renminbi.

    Meanwhile, over the twelve months period to June 2025, the nominal Pula exchange rate depreciated by 1.7 percent against the IMF Special Drawing Rights (SDR) and 1.1 percent against the South African rand. With respect to the SDR constituent currencies, the Pula depreciated by 8.1 percent against the Japanese yen, 6.3 percent against the euro and 5.4 percent against the British pound, while it appreciated by 2.7 percent against the US dollar and 0.8 percent against the Chinese renminbi.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: The Pula appreciated by 2 percent against the South African rand

    Source: Bank of Botswana

    Over the one-month period to June 2025, the Pula appreciated by 2 percent against the South African rand, while it depreciated by 0.5 percent against the SDR. It depreciated by 2.5 percent against the euro and 1.1 percent against the British pound, while it appreciated 0.8 percent each against the US dollar and the Japanese yen and 0.4 percent against the Chinese renminbi.

    Meanwhile, over the twelve months period to June 2025, the nominal Pula exchange rate depreciated by 1.7 percent against the IMF Special Drawing Rights (SDR) and 1.1 percent against the South African rand. With respect to the SDR constituent currencies, the Pula depreciated by 8.1 percent against the Japanese yen, 6.3 percent against the euro and 5.4 percent against the British pound, while it appreciated by 2.7 percent against the US dollar and 0.8 percent against the Chinese renminbi.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: The Pula appreciated by 2 percent against the South African rand

    Source: Bank of Botswana

    Over the one-month period to June 2025, the Pula appreciated by 2 percent against the South African rand, while it depreciated by 0.5 percent against the SDR. It depreciated by 2.5 percent against the euro and 1.1 percent against the British pound, while it appreciated 0.8 percent each against the US dollar and the Japanese yen and 0.4 percent against the Chinese renminbi.

    Meanwhile, over the twelve months period to June 2025, the nominal Pula exchange rate depreciated by 1.7 percent against the IMF Special Drawing Rights (SDR) and 1.1 percent against the South African rand. With respect to the SDR constituent currencies, the Pula depreciated by 8.1 percent against the Japanese yen, 6.3 percent against the euro and 5.4 percent against the British pound, while it appreciated by 2.7 percent against the US dollar and 0.8 percent against the Chinese renminbi.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: May retail sales up 2.4%

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The value of total retail sales in May, provisionally estimated at $31.3 billion, was up 2.4% compared with the same month in 2024, the Census & Statistics Department announced today.

    After netting out the effect of price changes over the same period, the provisional estimate for the month was 1.9% higher year-on-year.

    Of the total retail sales figure for the month, online sales accounted for 8.3%. Provisionally estimated at $2.6 billion, the value of online retail sales increased 0.3% compared with a year earlier.

    Meanwhile, the value of sales of “other consumer goods not elsewhere classified” increased by 8.9%.

    There were also increases in the value of sales in the following categories: commodities in supermarkets (+1.3%); apparel (+0.4%); food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco (+2.8%); commodities in department stores (+6.3%); medicines and cosmetics (+8.7%); electrical goods and other consumer durable goods not elsewhere classified (+0.9%); motor vehicles and parts (+2.7%); books, newspapers, stationery and gifts (+1.6%); and optical items (+1.4%).

    By contrast, the value of sales of jewellery, watches and clocks, and valuable gifts decreased by 3.2% for the period. Also down were sales of fuels (-6.9%); footwear, allied products and other clothing accessories (-0.1%); furniture and fixtures (-12%); and Chinese drugs and herbs (-2.2%).

    The Government said that retail sales performance saw improvement in May. While the retail sector continues to adapt to the changes in consumption patterns, the Government’s proactive efforts in promoting tourism and mega events, in tandem with the increase in employment earnings and sustained steady growth of the Mainland economy, will help bolster consumption sentiment and support the consumption market.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: World Humanoid Robot Games to expand with new competition programs

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, July 2 (Xinhua) — The organizing committee of the first World Humanoid Robot Games (WHRG), scheduled for August in Beijing, has released an updated competition program that will include wushu, MMA (mixed martial arts) and group dance, the Beijing Evening News reported Tuesday.

    “These new types will once again demonstrate the technological prowess and unique charm of humanoid robots, reflecting the deep integration of robotics into people’s lives,” the newspaper quoted Zhang Hua, head of the competition department of the WHRG organizing committee, as saying.

    The first series of competitions in various disciplines, including football, athletics, floor exercises, badminton, basketball and table tennis, were previously confirmed, the statement said.

    The Beijing Masters of the RoboCup Asia Pacific (RCAP) is currently considered the premier and most watched football tournament among humanoid robots worldwide. According to Zhou Zhaoda, a technical officer of the competition department of the WHRG organizing committee, 30 robot teams from around the world have submitted preliminary applications to participate.

    WHRG, which will take place in mid-August, will be the world’s first multi-sport competition for humanoid robots.

    “These games will demonstrate how close robots’ capabilities are to the human ideal,” said Jiang Guangzhi, head of the Beijing Administration of Economy and Information Technology. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Provisional statistics of retail sales for May 2025

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released the latest figures on retail sales today (July 2).

         The value of total retail sales in May 2025, provisionally estimated at $31.3 billion, increased by 2.4% compared with the same month in 2024. The revised estimate of the value of total retail sales in April 2025 decreased by 2.3% compared with a year earlier. For the first 5 months of 2025 taken together, it was provisionally estimated that the value of total retail sales decreased by 4.0% compared with the same period in 2024.

         Of the total retail sales value in May 2025, online sales accounted for 8.3%. The value of online retail sales in that month, provisionally estimated at $2.6 billion, increased by 0.3% compared with the same month in 2024. The revised estimate of online retail sales in April 2025 decreased by 3.7% compared with a year earlier. For the first 5 months of 2025 taken together, it was provisionally estimated that the value of online retail sales decreased by 1.7% compared with the same period in 2024.

         After netting out the effect of price changes over the same period, the provisional estimate of the volume of total retail sales in May 2025 increased by 1.9% compared with a year earlier. The revised estimate of the volume of total retail sales in April 2025 decreased by 3.3% compared with a year earlier. For the first 5 months of 2025 taken together, the provisional estimate of the total retail sales decreased by 5.5% in volume compared with the same period in 2024.

         Analysed by broad type of retail outlet in descending order of the provisional estimate of the value of sales and comparing May 2025 with May 2024, the value of sales of other consumer goods not elsewhere classified increased by 8.9%. This was followed by sales of commodities in supermarkets (+1.3% in value); wearing apparel (+0.4%); food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco (+2.8%); commodities in department stores (+6.3%); medicines and cosmetics (+8.7%); electrical goods and other consumer durable goods not elsewhere classified (+0.9%); motor vehicles and parts (+2.7%); books, newspapers, stationery and gifts (+1.6%); and optical shops (+1.4%).

         On the other hand, the value of sales of jewellery, watches and clocks, and valuable gifts decreased by 3.2% in May 2025 over a year earlier. This was followed by sales of fuels (-6.9% in value); footwear, allied products and other clothing accessories (-0.1%); furniture and fixtures (-12.0%); and Chinese drugs and herbs (-2.2%).

         Based on the seasonally adjusted series, the provisional estimate of the value of total retail sales increased by 4.1% in the three months ending May 2025 compared with the preceding three-month period, while the provisional estimate of the volume of total retail sales increased by 7.0%.

    Commentary

         A government spokesman said that retail sales performance saw improvement in May 2025. The value of total retail sales turned to a year-on-year increase of 2.4%. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the value of total retail sales increased by 7.0% over the preceding month. 

         Looking ahead, the spokesman said that while the retail sector continues to adapt to the changes in consumption patterns, the Government’s proactive efforts in promoting tourism and mega events, in tandem with the increase in employment earnings and sustained steady growth of the Mainland economy, will help bolster consumption sentiment and support the consumption market.

    Further information

         Table 1 presents the revised figures on value index and value of retail sales for all retail outlets and by broad type of retail outlet for April 2025 as well as the provisional figures for May 2025. The provisional figures on the value of retail sales for all retail outlets and by broad type of retail outlet as well as the corresponding year-on-year changes for the first 5 months of 2025 taken together are also shown.

         Table 2 presents the revised figures on value of online retail sales for April 2025 as well as the provisional figures for May 2025. The provisional figures on year-on-year changes for the first 5 months of 2025 taken together are also shown.

         Table 3 presents the revised figures on volume index of retail sales for all retail outlets and by broad type of retail outlet for April 2025 as well as the provisional figures for May 2025. The provisional figures on year-on-year changes for the first 5 months of 2025 taken together are also shown.

         Table 4 shows the movements of the value and volume of total retail sales in terms of the year-on-year rate of change for a month compared with the same month in the preceding year based on the original series, and in terms of the rate of change for a three-month period compared with the preceding three-month period based on the seasonally adjusted series.

         The classification of retail establishments follows the Hong Kong Standard Industrial Classification (HSIC) Version 2.0, which is used in various economic surveys for classifying economic units into different industry classes.

         These retail sales statistics measure the sales receipts in respect of goods sold by local retail establishments and are primarily intended for gauging the short-term business performance of the local retail sector. Data on retail sales are collected from local retail establishments through the Monthly Survey of Retail Sales (MRS). Local retail establishments with and without physical shops are covered in MRS and their sales, both through conventional shops and online channels, are included in the retail sales statistics.

         The retail sales statistics cover consumer spending on goods but not on services (such as those on housing, catering, medical care and health services, transport and communication, financial services, education and entertainment) which account for over 50% of the overall consumer spending. Moreover, they include spending on goods in Hong Kong by visitors but exclude spending outside Hong Kong by Hong Kong residents. Hence they should not be regarded as indicators for measuring overall consumer spending.

         Users interested in the trend of overall consumer spending should refer to the data series of private consumption expenditure (PCE), which is a major component of the Gross Domestic Product published at quarterly intervals. Compiled from a wide range of data sources, PCE covers consumer spending on both goods (including goods purchased from all channels) and services by Hong Kong residents whether locally or abroad. Please refer to the C&SD publication “Gross Domestic Product by Expenditure Component” for more details.

         More detailed statistics are given in the “Report on Monthly Survey of Retail Sales”. Users can browse and download this publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1080003&scode=530).

         Users who have enquiries about the survey results may contact the Distribution Services Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 7400; E-mail: mrs@censtatd.gov.hk).

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Red flags hoisted at Stanley Main Beach and Shek O Beach

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

    Attention TV/radio announcers:

    Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

         Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

         The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (July 2) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Stanley Main Beach and Shek O Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at these beaches.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ2: Prevention of water mains bursts

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is a question by the Hon Holden Chow and a reply by the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, in the Legislative Council today (July 2):

    Question:

    The Government indicated in its reply to a question from a Member of this Council on May 14 this year that the Water Intelligent Network (WIN) implemented by the Water Supplies Department has completed the establishment of all 2 400 district metering areas (DMAs) by the end of March this year to help strengthen the management of leakage in water supply networks. However, it has been reported that incidents of underground water mains burst still occurred frequently, and multiple incidents of water mains burst even occurred in Tuen Mun District within a week in early June this year. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

    (1) whether it has examined the reasons for the occurrence of underground water mains burst incidents one after another after the completion of the establishment of WIN, and whether it has explored improvement proposals;
    The reply to the questions raised by the Hon Chow is as follows:
    However, the DMAs of WIN currently do not cover the fresh water trunk mains and approximately 20 per cent of the fresh water distribution network. We have to extend its coverage. Additionally, some aged water mains, such as those made of cast iron and asbestos cement, have relatively fragile exteriors. Even the water mains laid within the DMAs of WIN, they may suddenly burst upon external force impact, so we need to schedule the replacement of these water mains taking into account risk factors.
    In addition, the WSD has been collaborating with local and Mainland academic and research institutions to study the application of other advanced technologies, such as sonar surveys and fibre-optic technology, to detect pipe leakage early. The WSD will collaborate with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University to establish a joint laboratory of “In-line Robot” in August this year to conduct high-precision inspections of water mains.
    From 2015 to March 2025, about 240 kilometres long water mains have been replaced or rehabilitated. The WSD obtained funding approval from the Legislative Council last year to replace or rehabilitate about 20 kilometres of large steel water mains. These improvement works, including about four kilometres in Tuen Mun District, are preliminarily expected to be completed by 2029 progressively.  
    ???Thank you, President.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ4: Increasing number of taxi drivers

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Following is a question by the Hon Judy Chan and a reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (July 2):

    Question:

    It has been reported that the taxi industry has faced difficulties in attracting new blood to join the industry in recent years, and, as the first batch of taxi fleets will officially commence service in July this year, there will be keen demand for taxi drivers. There are views that the situation can be rectified by optimising the procedure and content of the Taxi Written Test of the Transport Department. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

    (1) of the number of candidates sitting for the Taxi Written Test as well as the number of candidates who passed the test and the passing rate in each of the past five years;

    (2) how the Location and Route Questions of Part B of the Taxi Written Test will be optimised to suit, in the context of driving, the new normal arising from the advancement of technology nowadays; and

    (3) whether it has any plans to assist the industry in attracting newcomers to join the industry; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

    Reply:

    President,

    The Government has been striving to enhance the service quality of taxis, and has introduced a series of measures in the past years. Such measures include introducing a taxi fleet regime, enhancing the Taxi Written Test, increasing the maximum passenger seating capacity of taxis, introducing a Taxi-Driver-Offence Points (TDOP) system, and relaxing no-stopping restrictions for taxis at designated restricted zones. These measures are launched with a view to providing passengers with a better riding experience, enhancing the overall image of the taxi trade and promoting the healthy development of the taxi industry in the long run, thereby creating a virtuous cycle to attract more new blood to join the taxi industry.

    Regarding the Hon Judy Chan’s questions, my reply is as follows: 

    (1) The Taxi Written Test focuses on assessing candidates’ practical knowledge on the guidelines and regulations related to taxi operation, key locations and routes, as well as the Road Users’ Code. The Transport Department (TD) enhanced the Taxi Written Test in February 2020 by updating the test content and adjusting the number of questions, with a view to focusing more on the assessment of core knowledge regarding taxi services. Such measures successfully attract more people to apply for the Taxi Written Test. The number of candidates sitting the Test has increased significantly by 40 per cent in the past few years, from less than 10 000 candidates sitting the Test in 2019 to around 14 000 candidates in 2024. In addition, the passing rate of the Taxi Written Test rose from 37 per cent in 2019 to 60 per cent in 2024. The above figures show that the enhancement of the Taxi Written Test has a notably positive effect in attracting newcomers to join the taxi driver profession. The numbers of candidates who sat and passed the Taxi Written Test from 2019 to 2024 and the corresponding passing rates are set out at the Annex. 

    (2) To keep up with the times and better align the Taxi Written Test with the practical needs of the trade, the TD is currently conducting a comprehensive review of the arrangements of the Test.

    In particular, having considered that modern navigation technology can now assist taxi drivers in quickly locating destinations and planning the most efficient driving routes, the TD will substantially reduce and simplify the questions on locations and routes under Part B of the Taxi Written Test and update the question bank, with a view to better aligning the Test with practical needs, and at the same time ensure that the candidates who pass the test possess the professional knowledge and qualities of taxi drivers, and have a basic understanding and grasp of the major road networks and frequently visited locations.

    Besides simplifying the questions under Part B of the Test in the light of technological applications, the TD will also add new questions to assess candidates’ knowledge of the series of new measures introduced to enhance taxi service quality (e.g. taxi fleet regime, the TDOP system).

    The TD is now pressing ahead with the relevant work and aims to implement the further enhanced Taxi Written Test in the fourth quarter of this year.

    (3) Apart from enhancing the Taxi Written Test, the Government has relaxed the eligibility requirements for commercial vehicle (including taxi) driving licences from October 1, 2020. The period required for an applicant to hold a valid private car or light goods vehicle full driving licence has been shortened from a minimum of three years to at least one year, with a view to attracting more new blood to join the industry.

    Separately, the Government introduced the taxi fleet regime last year to encourage the trade to adopt a more professional and systematic approach to manage their fleets and drivers, in order to enhance the quality of taxi services and improve the overall image of the taxi industry. Last week, the TD announced that they would issue the official Taxi Fleet Licences to the five taxi fleets within July 2025.

    Over the past period of time, the five fleet operators have been proactively implementing different measures to recruit new blood and existing drivers to join the fleet. Various taxi fleet operators have successively participated in the district and thematic job fairs organised by the Labour Department, enabling job seekers to gain a deeper understanding of the fleets and their recruitment model. The fleets have also implemented different measures to recruit taxi drivers, including offering new driver referral bonus and safe driving bonus, as well as providing flexible working hour arrangements. In addition, the operators will offer pre-service training to enhance drivers’ customer service skills, and implement systematic management to support drivers in handling customer enquiries, creating a better working environment for fleet drivers. We understand from the fleet operators that the job fairs and various measures have attracted enquiries from job seekers outside the industry, and they have recruited more than 40 newcomers to join the fleet. These efforts will continue, demonstrating that the taxi fleet regime has a positive effect in attracting new blood to join the industry.

    In addition, the Employees Retraining Board also offers taxi driver-related training courses to provide prospective drivers with information on the development of the industry, driving safety and matters to pay attention to when providing taxi services, thereby assisting them in joining the taxi driver profession. Eligible persons may even receive tuition subsidies or full course fee waivers. At the same time, certain taxi dealers are also offering online courses for those seeking to apply for taxi driver’s licence, as well as training courses for individuals that are new to the industry, so that the newcomers can better understand the daily operation of the taxi industry. All these measures help attract new blood to the industry.

    The Government will continue to closely monitor the operation and management of the taxi industry, and implement different measures to assist the trade to enhance their services, thereby promoting the healthy development of the taxi industry in the long run.

    Thank you, President.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ10: Combating abuse of public welfare and public housing

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is a question by the Hon Steven Ho and a written reply by the Acting Secretary for Housing, Mr Victor Tai, in the Legislative Council today (July 2):

    Question:

         Under the existing system, applicants of the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) Scheme (excluding the Guangdong Scheme and the Fujian Scheme) and the Social Security Allowance (SSA) Scheme must satisfy the residence requirements and the permissible limits of absence from Hong Kong (absence limits). In addition, tenants of public rental housing (PRH) must continuously reside in the units. However, it is learnt that some people are still enjoying benefits such as old age allowances and PRH despite residing abroad. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

    (1) as it is learnt that while the Social Welfare Department only uses identity card numbers to verify CSSA and SSA recipients’ travel records with the Immigration Department (ImmD), some people enter and exit Hong Kong with their passports in order to circumvent checks against the absence limits, taking advantage of the loophole in the absence of connection between travel records based on identity cards and those based on passports, whether the Government has investigated the veracity of the aforesaid situation; whether the Government has assessed the annual loss of public money arising from this loophole, and whether it has enhanced the verification mechanism to plug the loophole; if it has enhanced the verification mechanism, of the details (including the effectiveness of the enhanced mechanism); if not, the reasons for that;

    (2) whether the Government has considered using biometric features (e.g. fingerprint and face) as the only proof of identification for travel records, so as to prevent individuals from taking advantage of the loophole in travel records mentioned in (1) to conceal the fact that they reside abroad; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

    (3) given that the Office of The Ombudsman mentioned a number of cases of “not retaining regular and continuous residence in the flats” in its report dated January this year on the direct investigation operation into the Government’s work in combating abuse of public housing resources, what specific mechanisms it has currently put in place to monitor and prevent abuse of PRH by individuals residing abroad, and how the effectiveness of such mechanisms is assessed; as regards tenants who deliberately conceal their residence abroad in order to keep their PRH flats, what other legal measures the Government has put in place, apart from demanding surrender of the flats, to bring them to account, and whether it has assessed if such measures have sufficient deterrent effect; and

    (4) given that all the principal tenants and household members in the multiple cases of “not retaining regular and continuous residence in the flats” mentioned in (3) reside outside Hong Kong, whether the Government has examined the reasons for not being able to uncover their abuse of PRH in time through their travel records back then; in order to combat abuse of PRH by tenants residing abroad, whether the Government has explored setting up an cross-departmental cooperation mechanism for the Housing Department, the Hong Kong Housing Society and ImmD to carry out data sharing, so as to enhance the procedure for accessing the records of PRH residents’ stay in Hong Kong?

    Reply:

    President,

         In response to the question raised by Hon Steven Ho, in consultation with the Security Bureau and the Labour and Welfare Bureau, our reply is as follows:

    (1) Applicants and recipients of the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) or the Social Security Allowance must meet the relevant residence requirements and other eligibility criteria, and are required to declare all travel documents and provide other relevant information to the Social Welfare Department (SWD). If applicants and recipients fail to provide all relevant documents or information truthfully, once such cases are found, the SWD will take follow-up actions and may refer the cases to the law enforcement department for handling if necessary. It is a criminal offence for an applicant and a recipient to deliberately provide false information or omit information in order to obtain cash assistance by deception. In addition to becoming ineligible for cash assistance, the applicant and the recipient may be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a maximum of 14 years under the Theft Ordinance (Cap. 210 of the Laws of Hong Kong).

         Besides, in accordance with the existing established mechanism, the Immigration Department (ImmD) provides, on a regular basis or upon request by the SWD, the travel records of applicants and recipients, including the travel records of these persons using their Hong Kong identity card, travel document issued by ImmD (including Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passports) and travel document issued by other countries/territories, to the SWD for verification of the compliance with the relevant residence requirements of the persons concerned.

    (2) Section 5 of the Immigration Ordinance (Cap. 115) stipulates that individuals entering or leaving Hong Kong at immigration control points must present a valid travel document. When entering into or exiting from Hong Kong, Hong Kong residents may use their Hong Kong identity card or a valid travel document to complete immigration clearance at traditional counters at control points. Eligible holders of smart identity card may also use their smart identity cards or encrypted QR codes, together with fingerprint or facial recognition technology, for self-service immigration clearance at e-Channels.

         To implement effective immigration control, the ImmD adopts biometric recognition technologies (such as fingerprints and facial images) in its immigration control operations to verify the identity of individuals using Hong Kong identity card or travel document for entry into or exit from Hong Kong.

        Under the existing established mechanism, the immigration records of relevant individuals provided by the ImmD to the SWD and the Housing Department (HD) have already encompassed information related to Hong Kong identity cards, travel documents issued by the ImmD (including Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passports), and travel documents issued by other countries or regions. The information provided would facilitate verification by the relevant departments of whether the recipients continue to meet the eligibility criteria for receiving relevant social welfare benefits.

    (3) and (4) The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) has adopted multi-pronged approach to combat tenancy abuse of public rental housing (PRH). HD has all along addressed the issue of tenancy abuse through various means including daily estate management, routine home visits, random checks and in-depth investigations of suspected cases, as well as publicity and education. These efforts aim to reduce the chance of tenancy abuse of PRH, thereby expediting turnover of PRH flats and allowing those in genuine need of housing to move into PRH as soon as possible.

         To ensure the optimal use of PRH resources, the HD has established a regular mechanism with Immd, under which Immd regularly reports the death records of PRH tenants to the HD so that the HD can proactively monitor tenants’ occupancy status and take appropriate actions. The Immd also provides travel records of relevant individuals (such as PRH principal tenants and household members) upon request by the HD, with a view to enabling the HD to verify whether the individuals concerned continue to meet the eligibility criteria for residing in PRH.
     
         To strengthen the monitoring, the HD has set up a new computer system to store case information about tenancy abuse, including the processes and investigation results. Estate management staff also conducts unannounced home visits outside office hours. Investigations will be initiated, if there are suspected cases of PRH abuse or upon receipt of reports from the public on suspected cases of PRH abuse. The HD also selects cases on a random basis for in-depth investigation.

         In addition, to expedite the verification of occupancy status of tenancy abuse cases and enforcement actions, the HD liaises with other government departments to obtain key information in accordance with relevant ordinances and regulations (such as enquiry with the ImmD about the immigration records of tenants who are suspected of not retaining regular and continuous residence, enquiry with the Water Supplies Department about households with unusual water consumption, etc) so as to verify cases of tenancy abuse and accelerate the handling of such cases.

         In fact, since 2023, the HA has rolled out a series of new measures to strengthen efforts to combat tenancy abuse of PRH. Starting from October 2023, the HA requires all PRH households to declare their occupancy status and ownership of domestic property in Hong Kong every two years since admission to PRH. They are required to declare whether they have retained continuous residence in their units, and whether the units have been left vacant or used for unauthorised purposes. If households have made false statement, the HA will consider terminating the tenancy agreement. The family member(s) who has made false statement will be subject to the restrictions of a five-year debarment from applying for PRH, no offer of a PRH flat with better quality, and even prosecution. Since the introduction of the measures, some PRH tenants were sentenced to imprisonment of 30 days by the court, and some tenants have voluntarily returned their units. The HA is confident that these measures will continue to strengthen its efforts against tenancy abuse of PRH.

         To collect intelligence for better targeting in combating PRH abuse, the HA launched the “Report Public Housing Abuse Award” (the Award) in January 2025. Since the launch of the Award, as at end March 2025, out of the total reported cases of around 3 900, about 1 700 cases have opted for participating in the Award. After initial screening, about 1 200 reported cases were eligible for joining the Award, and about 700 of them can be further followed up. There are cases where Notice-To-Quit were successfully issued. The first round of the Award presentation will be held in July 2025. The above demonstrated that the public has established a strong consensus to combat PRH tenancy abuse and to collectively safeguard the precious housing resources.

         In order to cope with the extra workload brought by the enhanced efforts in combating PRH abuse, in recent years, the HA has strengthened its collaboration with various government departments and has adopted different strategies and manpower deployment as appropriate in light of changing circumstances. This includes recruiting retired disciplined services officers to join the HD. From July 2022 to May 2025, over 8 700 PRH flats were recovered by the HA in view of tenancy abuse or breach of tenancy agreement. Compared to the recovery of about 1 400 flats in 2021/22, the average annual number of PRH flats recovered due to tenancy abuse and breach of tenancy agreement from 2022/23 to 2024/25 has more than doubled. This demonstrated the effectiveness of the strengthened measures implemented by the HA.

         To strengthen the intensity of combating PRH abuse and enhance the deterrent effect, the Housing Bureau has submitted the Housing (Amendment) Bill 2025 (the Bill) to the Legislative Council, and the Bill was passed on June 11, 2025. The Bill mainly includes three aspects: (i) introducing new offenses of serious tenancy abuse of PRH flats; (ii) empowering authorised officers to demand personal details from suspects; and (iii) extending the limitation of time for prosecution of offences of false statements, refusal to furnish information and unlawful alienations, thereby making measures against PRH abuse more deterrent. The relevant offenses will take effect from March 31, 2026. The HA will step up publicity efforts to ensure that the public fully understands and is aware of the consequences of violating the law.

         The HA/HD will continue to review the existing measures, including enhancing the investigation workflows and strengthening staff training, publicity and public education. We will also keep reviewing our strategies in combating PRH abuse and strengthening collaboration with other departments to safeguard the rational use of PRH resources.

         The Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS) has also been adopting a multi-pronged approach in combating abuse of PRH resources holistically, including conducting home visits on a regular basis and prioritising investigation of suspected cases of non-occupation (such as those with relatively low water and electricity consumption, backlog of uncollected notices and letters in mailboxes for a prolonged period, etc). In addition, the HKHS has regularised conducting home visits during non-office hours and strengthened training for frontline staff to further enhance their awareness of and sensitivity to breaches of tenancy agreements. In addition, HKHS leverages smart technology to step up its efforts in combating PRH tenancy abuse, such as the in-house development of “eHome Visit”. This digital platform digitises tenant information and home visit records to facilitate comparison, thereby allowing frontline staff to have a full picture during home visits and enabling prompt identification of suspicious cases. The HKHS will continue to keep pace with the times and regularly review the effectiveness of these measures, with additional initiatives introduced as and when necessary with a view to further enhancing the efficiency of home visits and the effectiveness of investigation of PRH tenancy abuse cases.

         The HKHS and the HA have maintained close communication and exchange on the efforts in combating abuse of PRH resources, and review and assess the effectiveness of the relevant measures from time to time. When tenants are suspected of not retaining regular and continuous residence in their units, the HKHS will request resident information such as travel records from ImmD depending on individual circumstances and investigation needs. Separately, the HKHS has since October 2005 established a notification mechanism with the ImmD on death records. Under this mechanism, the ImmD provides on a monthly basis records of persons who reside in rental estates of the HKHS yet with death registered in Hong Kong for the HKHS’s suitable follow-up actions. The HKHS will continue to strengthen its communication with the ImmD to help enhance the effectiveness of investigations on PRH tenancy abuse.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ6: Handling of yard waste

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

         Following is a question by the Hon Dennis Leung and a reply by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, in the Legislative Council today (July 2):
     
    Question:
     
         It is learnt that the yard waste recycling centre Y·PARK mainly receives yard waste such as tree trunks that are six metres long or below, as well as branches, twigs and leaves. Regarding the handling of yard waste, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) as some members of the public have relayed that uncollected yard waste is often seen on streets and in parks, whether the Government has formulated guidelines requiring the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) and their outsourced contractors to first sort the collected yard waste and send the yard waste that can be processed by Y·PARK to the collection point of the Environmental Protection Department; if not, of the reasons for that;
     
    (2) according to the existing procedures, how the LCSD, FEHD and their outsourced contractors handle yard waste that cannot be processed by Y·PARK; of the approximate tonnage of such yard waste in each year since 2019; and
     
    (3) given that Y·PARK has imposed a number of restrictions on the recovery of yard waste, and it is learnt that some companies in the Mainland and the United States adopt anaerobic digestion technology to convert yard waste into biogas for electricity generation, whether the Government will consider adopting such technology to process yard waste, so as to enhance recycling and conversion of waste into energy; if not, of the reasons for that?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,

         The super typhoon Mangkhut that hit Hong Kong in 2018 caused severe damage, uprooting numerous trees, many of which were large trees that could be suitable for timber production. In 2021, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) set up the temporary yard waste recycling centre, Y·PARK, in accordance with the Waste Blueprint for Hong Kong 2035, to collect and process yard waste generated from regular vegetation maintenance and public works projects, and to assist in treating large quantities of yard waste generated shortly after typhoons when needed.
     
         Yard waste includes grass, leaves, shrubs, twigs and woody tree trunks. Some of them may be affected by pests or diseases. Y·PARK mainly collects and sorts out the high quality and suitable portion of yard waste for recycling into recyclable products of relatively higher values so as to achieve both converting waste to resources and enhancing cost-effectiveness.
     
         The current Y·PARK is temporary in nature. In future, the Government reserves land in the New Territories North New Town to develop a larger-scale yard waste recycling facility to enhance yard waste handling capacity. 
     
         Having consulted the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), our consolidated reply to the question raised by the Hon Dennis Leung is as follows:
     
    (1) The Government has established guidelines to drive various government departments, including the FEHD and the LCSD, adhering to the principles of reduce, reuse, and recycle, to shred and reuse yard waste as much for gardening on-site as far as possible, while yard waste that cannot be treated or reused on-site could be delivered to suitable recycling facilities for treatment. The EPD has also continuously liaised with government departments, providing relevant guidelines to promote the proper sorting of recyclable yard waste at source and its delivery to Y·PARK for processing. In 2024, the quantity of yard waste disposed of at landfills was about 230 tonnes per day, accounting for about 2 per cent of the municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal of at landfills.
     
    (2) Not all yard waste is suitable for delivering to Y·PARK for processing. According to prevailing handling procedures, when the FEHD, the LCSD and their contractors encounter yard waste unsuitable for recycling, such as yard waste infected by bacteria, infested with pests, or containing large amount of impurities, while providing street cleansing or park management services, such yard waste will be sent directly or via refuse transfer stations to landfills for disposal. From 2019 to April 2025, the LCSD transported an average of about seven tonnes of yard waste unsuitable for recycling to landfills per day, whilst the FEHD does not maintain relevant data.
     
    (3) The Government is developing two main types of waste-to-energy facilities currently. The first type of facilities is the Organic Resources Recovery Centre (O·PARK), adopting anaerobic digestion technology to process food waste. The second type of facilities adopts modern incineration technology to treat waste, such as T·PARK which incinerates sludge to generate electricity, and the Integrated Waste Management Facilities Phase I (I·PARK1) under construction which will incinerate MSW to generate electricity.
     
         The O·PARKs are designed to treat food waste which contains proteins, sugars, fats and high water content. These substances decompose more easily during anaerobic digestion process, and produce more biogas, resulting in a higher energy conversion efficiency for electricity generation. Under feasible technical conditions, we also make the best use of the existing waste management facilities to test out the treatment of other waste. For instance, while O·PARK2 is mainly for treating food waste, we conducted trials for treating pig waste by anaerobic digestion since its commissioning in March 2024. Following the successful trials, we have fully replaced the previous practice of disposing pig waste at landfills with anaerobic digestion technology since July 2024, which significantly reduced the potential odour issues associated with disposal of pig waste at landfills.
     
         However, there are significant differences between yard waste and food waste. It requires different treatment methods for yard waste. Yard waste comprises woody waste, such as tree trunks and branches, as well as non-woody waste, such as leaves and grass.  Tree trunks and branches are high in wood fiber content and low in moisture content, so they are not easily decomposed by anaerobic digestion. If treating the yard waste by co-digestion by anaerobic digestion technology in O.PARKs, it would not only occupy substantial space in the digestion tanks but would also significantly reduce food waste processing capacity and efficiency. In addition, as woody waste is hard and bulky, it is more difficult to be crushed into pieces as compared with food waste, such that additional energy and water will be required to turn the woody waste into slurry for further treatment. The installation of necessary pre-treatment facilities in O·PARKs and modifications to the existing operation mode will incur a substantial amount of cost but result in low energy efficiency. According to the understanding of the EPD, there are few examples of utilising anaerobic digestion technology to process woody waste in the Mainland or overseas. Even for such cases, they mainly involve processing small amount of non-woody yard waste such as grass and leaves.
     
         Non-woody garden waste such as grass and leaves can be processed through anaerobic digestion technically, but the process would be less efficient than treating food waste. Considering that such waste contains a certain calorific value and is often mixed with other MSW during collection, treating yard waste by incineration can reduce the need for additional space, processing, and costs associated with sorting yard waste from mixed waste while achieving the same outcome of turning waste into energy. The Government is working full steam on developing two modern large-scale incineration facilities, namely I·PARK1 and I·PARK2. These facilities will handle up to 9 000 tonnes of MSW per day in total in the future, converting waste into electricity. I·PARK1 is expected to commence operation by the end of this year and can assist in handling yard waste.

         Thank you, President.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ16: Improving English information channels

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

         Following is a question by Dr the Hon Starry Lee and a written reply by the Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan, in the Legislative Council today (July 2):
     
    Question:
     
         The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC Central Committee) has adopted the Resolution of the CPC Central Committee on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese Modernization, in which it is pointed out that Hong Kong needs to further capitalise on its strengths and become an international hub for high-calibre talents. There are views that attracting international talents requires efforts on various fronts, among which, the creation of an international living environment and the setting up of well-established English information channels for demonstration of Hong Kong’s cultural diversity, openness and inclusiveness are particularly important. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) whether it has compiled statistics on the percentage of broadcast time in foreign languages out of the total broadcast time in respect of the public broadcasting services in Hong Kong at present, and how the relevant time and percentage compare with those in other international metropolises;
     
    (2) of the specific policies and whether resources have been allocated to encourage local television and sound broadcasters to produce more quality English-language programmes, especially those with contents showcasing the business environment, cultural characteristics, lifestyle, etc, in Hong Kong;
     
    (3) whether it has evaluated the effectiveness of the existing English media contents in attracting and retaining international talents; whether it has conducted relevant surveys to understand the information needs of international talents;
     
    (4) whether it will consider setting up an additional 24-hour English channel on Radio Television Hong Kong and producing more English programmes to present a soft and down-to-earth introduction of the policies and development opportunities in Hong Kong, so as to enable international talents and inbound tourists to obtain local information more conveniently; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
     
    (5) of the Government’s plans to enhance Hong Kong’s international image and visibility by arranging additional media coverage in English, given that the 15th National Games and other international events are about to take place; and
     
    (6) apart from traditional television broadcasters, whether it has plans to make use of emerging publicity channels, such as digital platforms and social media, to produce more information contents about Hong Kong in English, so as to strengthen Hong Kong’s international communication capability, thereby creating a more attractive international living environment; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
         The HKSAR Government has been striving to showcase the unique characteristics of Hong Kong, being an international metropolis, from various perspectives to attract international talents and tourists by telling the good stories of Hong Kong through diverse television and radio programmes, as well as different promotion measures. Having consulted the Labour and Welfare Bureau (LWB), the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) and the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau, our consolidated response is as follows:
     
         Hong Kong’s broadcasting market is under steady development. The three domestic free television programme service (free TV) licensees, two sound broadcasting licensees and Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) are providing a total of 15 television channels and 14 radio channels respectively, which include five TV channels and three radio channels in English. The general public (including non-Chinese-speaking persons in Hong Kong) can choose and enjoy diverse television and radio programmes (including English-language programmes) with a wide variety according to their needs. The HKSAR Government does not maintain related information in other regions.
     
         Under the current broadcasting regulatory framework, licensed broadcasters shall provide English programmes through their designated English channels in accordance with their licence conditions. Considering the sustainable development of licensed broadcasters and the needs of different audience, the three domestic free TV English channels are currently required to broadcast English programmes for at least 55 per cent of the broadcasting hours. Although licensed broadcasters can exercise suitable flexibility to broadcast non-English programmes for not more than 45 per cent of the broadcasting hours on their English channels, free TV licensees must broadcast English programmes during prime time on their English channels as required to cater for the needs of the general public and non-Chinese-speaking persons in Hong Kong. We also note that the current English programmes offered by licensed broadcasters cover a wide range of genres, including news, current affairs, sports, cultural features, lifestyle and arts, etc.
     
         On the other hand, RTHK also proactively offers English programmes through its radio and TV channels, including launching English programme time slots on RTHK TV 31 and 32; providing 24-hour relay of the China Global Television Network Documentary and English Channels under the China Media Group on RTHK TV 34 and 35; providing 24-hour broadcasting with diverse English programmes on RTHK Radio 3; and broadcasting bilingual programmes featuring fine music and arts information on RTHK Radio 4, etc. These help exhibit Hong Kong’s diversity and global vision, proactively telling good stories of the country and Hong Kong and enabling non-Chinese speaking persons in Hong Kong to have a better understanding of various information about Hong Kong and Mainland China.
     
         Since the three free TV licences will expire in 2027 and 2028, the Communications Authority (CA) has commenced the renewal exercise of the free TV licences and will conduct a public consultation exercise in the third quarter of 2025. In processing the renewal applications, subject to actual circumstances, the CA will consider revisions to licence conditions and regulatory requirements on free TV services (including requirements on English channels and programmes) taking into account views from the industry and the public as well as the latest market development and submit recommendations on licence renewal to the Chief Executive in Council.
     
         Regarding the attraction of talents, talents are generally concerned about employment and business start-up opportunities, children’s education and social integration when considering pursuance of development in Hong Kong. Media in English, being an international language, helps disseminate relevant information to international talents, alleviating their concern about integration into local society. To facilitate social integration of international talents in a more proactive manner, the Hong Kong Talent Engage (HKTE) of the LWB has been providing comprehensive support services to help them stay in the city for development. With a view to ensuring that the comprehensive information about living and working in Hong Kong are accessible to international talents, the HKTE’s promotional and publicity materials, including its online platform, TV Announcements in the Public Interest, social media posts, etc, are already fully available in English, and its themed seminars on living in Hong Kong also offer online livestreaming and simultaneous interpretation services. On the other hand, the HKTE launched the Talent+ Volunteer Programme in September 2024, and has been collaborating with various non-governmental organisations, working partners and corporations to provide incoming talents with diverse volunteer service opportunities, strengthening their connections with the local community and fostering their sense of belonging to the city.
     
         As for promotion of mega events, the CSTB, in collaboration with relevant government departments and organisations, has been devising extensive publicity campaigns through diverse means for the 15th National Games (NG), the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities (NGD) and the 9th National Special Olympic Games (NSOG), including various overseas promotional initiatives with the support of the Information Services Department (ISD), such as running advertisements in overseas media and at a number of major overseas international airports, engaging overseas key opinion leaders to publish promotional posts, and inviting overseas journalists and guests to visit Hong Kong through thematic media visit programmes and the Sponsored Visitors Programme so that they can spread their positive visiting experiences in their hometown afterwards, with a view to raising the international profile and popularity of Hong Kong and attracting more overseas spectators to the events. RTHK will also fully engage in the promotion, production and live broadcast of the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG. Besides, for organisation of major events, depending on the nature of the events, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will invite media in English and other foreign languages to participate in press conferences or carry out promotional campaigns, and will also collaborate with local and international media organisations and event partners (such as relevant Consulates-General in Hong Kong, cultural organisations stationed in Hong Kong as well as the overseas Economic and Trade Offices) to promote the events. The LCSD will make good use of its social media platforms for promotion and support bilingual content so as to promote featured events to local and overseas audiences.
     
         Apart from the above promotion measures, the ISD has been setting up accounts on various social media platforms and producing more English social media posts for promotion. The ISD has also co-operated with the national media to make use of their multi-language new media platforms to promote Hong Kong to more countries through different foreign languages. Besides, the ISD will continue to work with suitable overseas media organisations to produce content on Hong Kong’s latest development in key areas, such as innovation and technology, sports, shipping, and culture and arts, etc, with the aim of expanding the reach of overseas promotional efforts through their readers’ network and social media platforms. Through monitoring of the latest market development and global trend, the ISD will continue to make use of appropriate platforms to raise the international profile of Hong Kong.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ7: Improving Mandatory Provident Fund system

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

         Following is a question by Dr the Hon Wendy Hong and a written reply by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, in the Legislative Council today (July 2):
     
    Question:
     
         This year marks the 25th anniversary of the implementation of the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) system. According to statistics from the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority, the total MPF assets amounted to around $1,340 billion as at the end of March this year. On improving the MPF system, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) of the number of MPF scheme members and their average MPF asset levels in each of the past five years, and set out in the table below with a breakdown by age group (i.e. (i) below 25, (ii) between 25 and below 30, (iii) between 35 and below 45, (iv) between 45 and below 55, (v) between 55 and below 65, and (vi) 65 or above), and MPF asset levels (i.e. (a) $200,000 or below, (b) between $200,001 and $400,000, (c) between $400,001 and $600,000, (d) between $600,001 and $800,000, (e) between $800,001 and $1,000,000, (f) between $1,000,001 and $1,500,000, (g) between $1,500,001 and $2,000,000, and (h) above $2,000,000);
     
    Year:

    Members’ age group MPF asset level
    (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) Average asset
    (i)                  
    (ii)                  
    (iii)                  
    (iv)                  
    (v)                  
    (vi)                  
    Total                  

    (2) as the Government indicated in its reply to a question from a Member of this Council on May 7 this year that allowing members of the public to make early withdrawals of their accrued benefits to meet home ownership needs would result in such accrued benefits leaking from the system and failing to accumulate for growth in value, thereby undermining the integrity of the MPF system, but there are views that the Government may consider allowing members of the public to borrow the accrued benefits from their MPF accounts to fund a down payment on their first home, with repayment made in instalments over the mortgage term of the purchased property and all outstanding amounts in the MPF account to be repaid immediately upon the sale of the property, which will create a closed-loop funding mechanism to prevent funds from flowing out of the owner-occupied property market or MPF accounts, thereby maximising the value of MPF in supporting people’s retirement, whether the government will consider the aforesaid proposal; and
     
    (3) given that Hong Kong is about to become a super-aged society, whether the Government will consider emulating the provident fund systems of the Mainland and Singapore by setting up designated contribution accounts targeting areas such as healthcare and housing under the MPF system in the long term, and increasing the income ratio for MPF contributions to help members of the public to cope with various expenses after retirement?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
         In consultation with the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA), the reply to the three parts of the question is as follows:
     
    (1) As at end-2024, about 4.8 million Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) scheme members held a total of around 11.2 million MPF accounts of various types (including contribution accounts, personal accounts and tax-deductible voluntary contribution accounts), hence each scheme member held more than 2.3 MPF accounts on average. The number of MPF scheme members and accounts over the past five years, the average amount of accrued benefits per MPF account by the age group of scheme members, and the number of accounts by the amount of accrued benefits are tabulated below:
     
    Table 1: Number of MPF scheme members and accounts

    Year
    (as at year-end)    		 Number of MPF scheme members Number of MPF accounts
    2020 4 459 000 10 324 000
    2021 4 586 000 10 477 000
    2022 4 694 000 10 843 000
    2023 4 754 000 11 058 000
    2024 4 794 000 11 228 000

     
    Table 2: Average amount of accrued benefits per MPF account by age group (As at end-2024)

    Age group Average amount of accrued benefits per MPF account ($)
    Under 25 8,600
    25 to under 35 52,600
    35 to under 45 126,700
    45 to under 55 163,200
    55 to under 65 149,000
    65 or above 73,800

    Note: Excluding accounts with nil accrued benefits.
     
    Table 3: Number of accounts by amount of accrued benefits (As at end-2024)

    Amount of accrued benefits Number of accounts
    $200,000 or below 9 373 000
    Between $200,001 and $400,000 1 072 000
    Between $400,001 and $600,000 408 000
    Between $600,001 and $800,000 181 000
    Between $800,001 and $1,000,000 88 000
    Between $1,000,001 and $2,000,000 98 000
    Over $2,000,000 27 000

     
         As each scheme member may hold more than one account, and the accounts may be held under different MPF schemes, figures on the number of scheme members by their total accrued benefits are not available at present. MPF schemes are gradually onboarding to the eMPF Platform, which commenced operation in June 2024. Upon completion of onboarding of all MPF schemes, data relating to total MPF accrued benefits by individual scheme members could be compiled via the eMPF Platform.
     
    (2) The MPF system is set up to assist the public to save up for their retirement. The idea of allowing scheme members to borrow their MPF benefits for the purpose of home ownership must take into consideration the impact on scheme members’ retirement savings. MPF is a long-term investment with compounding effect, designed to allow MPF benefits to accumulate steadily and be kept in the accounts for value growth during the working life of scheme members. Therefore, accrued benefits should be preserved as far as possible and only be withdrawn and used upon retirement of the employed persons. If we were to relax the preservation requirement on MPF benefits and allow scheme members to borrow their MPF benefits to meet home ownership needs, the accrued benefits would fail to accumulate for value growth, thereby reducing scheme members’ MPF benefits meant for their retirement and undermining the basic retirement protection for the working population. Furthermore, as the MPF system has the advantage of diversifying investment risks, investments in real estate bear higher risks than those in MPF funds in general. The arrangements requiring members of the public to repay in instalments after borrowing MPF benefits for home ownership purpose and make repayment with the proceeds from the sale of the property of which the down payment was met by MPF benefits also entail considerable complexity.
     
    (3) Under the MPF system, employers and employees are currently required to respectively make mandatory contributions equivalent to 5 per cent of the employee’s relevant income (with the current monthly contribution cap at $1,500). If the MPF system were to save up for medical and home ownership expenses at the same time without affecting the retirement protection for employed persons, we must consider increasing the overall MPF contribution rate. Drawing on practices in regions outside Hong Kong (such as the Mainland and Singapore), should dedicated savings accounts be set up to cover medical and home ownership expenses, the contribution rate to the relevant accounts could be as high as over 30 per cent of the employee’s income. Given that the current total mandatory contribution rate stands at only 10 per cent, the proposal of introducing dedicated savings accounts for medical and home ownership purposes under the MPF system and raising the total MPF contribution rate must first reach a broad societal consensus.
     
         The Government and the MPFA welcome views regarding the MPF system from various sectors, and will carefully assess the necessity and feasibility of each proposal to continuously improve the operation of the MPF system without compromising the basic retirement protection for scheme members.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ20: Cross-boundary marine tourism

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Following is a question by the Hon Tang Ka-piu and a written reply by the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, in the Legislative Council today (July 2):

    Question:

    It is learnt that the Mainland is actively developing the Nan’ao checkpoint pier project in the Dapeng New District of Shenzhen (the Nan’ao checkpoint), with plans to set up a number of routes to and from Hong Kong. On the other hand, the SAR Government has been promoting multi-destination cross-boundary tourism in recent years, while the Urban Renewal Authority has proposed to develop the waterfronts of Kwun Tong, Kowloon Bay, Kai Tak and To Kwa Wan along the Victoria Harbour into a world-class bay region known as “Victoria Cove Area”. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

    (1) whether the Working Group for Sha Tau Kok Co-operation Zone set up under the Task Force for Collaboration on the Northern Metropolis Development Strategy under the Guangdong-Hong Kong and Hong Kong-Shenzhen cooperation mechanism has discussed the development of the Nan’ao checkpoint and the routes to and from Hong Kong; if so, of the relevant progress; whether, in view of the opening of the Nan’ao checkpoint, it will consider setting up more sea control points in the eastern part of Hong Kong and introducing more streamlined immigration measures and policies, so as to create favourable conditions for multi-destination cross-boundary marine tourism across Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

    (2) as it has been reported that the Nan’ao checkpoint will set up a route connecting to Ma Liu Shui via Tung Ping Chau, which is only four kilometres away, while Tung Ping Chau, a tourist hotspot in Hong Kong, is yet to be supplied with tap water and electricity, whether the SAR Government will take advantage of the opportunity arising from the development of the Nan’ao checkpoint to work with the Shenzhen Municipality in providing Tung Ping Chau with infrastructure such as tap water and electricity to promote the development of the island; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

    (3) given that the Northern Metropolis Development Strategy proposes the establishment of the Mirs Bay/Yan Chau Tong Eco-‍recreation/tourism Circle, and there are views pointing out that the infrastructural facilities on the islands in such waters, particularly piers or landing facilities, are relatively outdated, whether the Government will allocate resources to upgrade the infrastructure on such islands so as to serve tourists’ needs; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

    (4) given that the Action Plan for High-Quality Development of the Yacht Industry (2024-2027) announced by the Guangdong Provincial Government proposes to strive for the implementation of a pilot prorgamme for the free flow of yachts among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, of the progress of the SAR Government’s discussion with the Mainland authorities on the implementation of the plan, and whether additional measures conducive to cross-‍boundary high-end marine tourism will be pursued at the same time for Hong Kong’s tourism industry;

    (5) whether, in the light of the establishment of the Nan’ao checkpoint, adjustments will be made to the planning for the Northern Metropolis to dovetail with the relevant development; and

    (6) whether it will consider creating a “cross-boundary marine eco-‍tourism belt along the eastern waters of Hong Kong” through a multi-destination tourism approach, including but not limited to the development of tourism routes connecting the Nan’ao checkpoint with various scenic spots, such as Sai Kung, Lei Yue Mun (the Sam Ka Tsuen Ferry Pier), Kwun Tong (the Kwun Tong Public Pier and the Kwun Tong Ferry Pier), Kai Tak (the Runway Park Pier and the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal), the Kwun Tong Waterfront Water Sports Centre, the Kai Tak Water Sports Centre and the proposed yacht club in Yau Tong Bay, with a view to utilising existing or planned facilities in combination with eco-tourism and water sports activities in Hong Kong’s eastern waters to attract high-value added visitors to come and spend money in Hong Kong; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

    Reply:

    President,

    As set out in the Development Blueprint for Hong Kong’s Tourism Industry 2.0, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) promotes in-depth integration of Hong Kong’s unique world-class resources with tourism, leveraging Hong Kong’s position as an international metropolis and tourism hub to promote the development of multi-destination travel itineraries and tourism products with other cities inside and outside the Greater Bay Area (GBA). According to the Northern Metropolis (NM) Action Agenda published in 2023, the Blue and Green Recreation, Tourism and Conservation Circle situated in the easternmost part of the NM comprises Robin’s Nest, Lin Ma Hang, Sha Tau Kok, Yan Chau Tong as well as coastal villages and the outlying islands. With abundant blue and green resources including country parks, marine parks and a geopark as well as a number of traditional rural townships, this zone has the potential for recreation and tourism development.

    Having consulted the CSTB, the Environment and Ecology Bureau, the Security Bureau, and the Transport and Logistics Bureau, a consolidated reply in response to the questions raised by the Hon Tang Ka-piu is as follows:

    (1) and (5) The Working Group for Sha Tau Kok Co-operation Zone (the Working Group) under the Task Force for Collaboration on the Northern Metropolis Development Strategy aims to promote cultural and tourism collaboration between Shenzhen and Hong Kong in Sha Tau Kok. The development of the proposed Nan’ao checkpoint, as mentioned in the question, includes routes to and from Hong Kong and is outside the scope of work of the Working Group. As regards setting up sea travel control points in the eastern part of Hong Kong and developing cross-boundary ferry routes between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, these will involve quite a number of considerations, including the long-term market demand for the ferry routes concerned and the carrying capacity of the region, the required infrastructure and supporting facilities and the cost-effectiveness, and the potential impacts on the ecological environment, etc, which warrant careful consideration.

    (2) Regarding the power supply to Tung Ping Chau, the Scheme of Control Agreements signed between the Government and the two power companies stipulate that the power companies are obliged to contribute to the development of Hong Kong by providing, operating and maintaining sufficient electricity related-facilities and supplying electricity to meet the demand. This includes the conducting of feasibility studies and putting forward of proposals for supplying electricity to remote areas. The Government will conduct comprehensive assessments on the two power companies’ proposals, taking into account such factors as the supply method, cost-effectiveness and the impact on the environment, etc, with a view to achieving the balance of the four objectives of our energy policy, namely, safety, stability, reasonable prices and environmentally friendliness.  Regarding the electricity supply to Tung Ping Chau, the Government has approved the proposals in the 2018-2023 Development Plan of the CLP Power Hong Kong Limited (CLP) to supply electricity generated from solar power systems for Tung Ping Chau. The Government has also urged the CLP to maintain close liaison with the local residents.

    Regarding the water supply to Tung Ping Chau, as the permanent residence of the island is sparse, if a treated water supply system is to be constructed irrespective of whether the submarine pipeline is constructed from Shenzhen or Hong Kong to Tung Ping Chau, it is expected that the low water consumption will likely lead to stagnant water in water mains,  resulting in deterioration of water quality. Preliminary study shows that the capital cost per capita for the construction of treated water supply system for Tung Ping Chau is very high. Factors such as cross-boundary project and management should also be considered for laying the cross-boundary submarine pipeline. In view of technical and financial feasibility of the water supply system, the Water Supplies Department (WSD) is actively exploring using technology to provide water supply to Tung Ping Chau. To this end, the WSD is providing assistance to a non-governmental organisation to carry out pilot use of domestic seawater filter devices to provide an alternative water source for the villagers of Tung Ping Chau.

    (3) The Government launched the policy of Pier Improvement Programme (PIP) in 2017, aiming to upgrade the structural safety and facilities of a number of existing public piers at remote areas in the New Territories and outlying islands, with a view to enhancing accessibility of some scenic spots and natural heritage as well as meeting the basic needs of local villagers relying on boats as their main transportation mode and fishermen’s operation. Under the PIP, eight public piers are located within the Mirs Bay/Yan Chau Tong in the NM, of which the construction of Lai Chi Chong Pier, Sam Mun Tsai Village Pier and Sham Chung Pier are expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2025. The remaining five piers are at the investigation and design stage. Upon completion of the detailed design, the Government will apply to the Legislative Council for funding for individual pier projects at appropriate time, based on the resource priority and related engineering deployment of the public works projects.

    (4) The CSTB supports the development and co-operation of yacht tourism in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao GBA, with a view to expanding and promoting high value-added tourism activities in Hong Kong and demonstrating the role of Hong Kong as a core demonstration zone for multi-destination tourism. The Development Bureau (DEVB) and the departments under its purview would make appropriate preparation in relation to land use planning and hardware for disembarkation and shores facilities so as to support the future development of yacht tourism in Hong Kong. With regard to the hardware facilities, the DEVB invited the market to submit expressions of interest (EOIs) for the proposed yacht berthing facilities at the ex-Lamma Quarry site and the expansion area of Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter in the first half of this year, and are currently consolidating and analysing the feedback collected. The target is to firm up the development parameters and requirements, conduct the relevant statutory procedures as needed, and invite tender by the end of 2026 and 2027, or even earlier, for the two projects mentioned above respectively. At the same time, the DEVB released in April this year the preliminary land use proposals for the sites around Hung Hom Station and its waterfront areas, proposing to make use of the water body to the west of the former Hung Hom Railway Freight Yard site to provide yacht berthing facilities. The DEVB is currently consulting the public on the whole land use proposal which includes, amongst others, the yacht berthing facilities. The target is to commence town planning and other statutory procedures in the second half of 2026.

    To promote yacht tourism, apart from providing more yacht berthing facilities to address the shortage of berths, the Government will also need to consider whether there is any need to improve the immigration clearance procedures for yachts, the visa requirements for crew members, as well as arrangements and ancillary facilities such as ship repairing and maintenance, which involve the work of various bureaux and departments. In this relation, the DEVB has already made use of the opportunity of the EOI exercises mentioned above to collect the industry’s views and improvement recommendations on the development of yacht tourism and the related ancillary facilities. We are currently consolidating and analysing the feedback collected, and will provide them to the relevant bureaux and departments for reference, with a view to facilitating the formulation of more facilitating measures in the future to promote yacht tourism.

    (6) At present, Mainland visitors can conveniently enter Hong Kong through various boundary control points to join local tours, including eco-tourism itineraries in Hong Kong. The Government will, under the premise of striking a balance between ecological conservation and tourism development, unveil Hong Kong’s precious ecological resources to visitors and develop island tourism. We will also make good use of the coastline and waterfront resources and encourage the trade to develop diversified tourism products.

    Under the Tourism Commission’s Lei Yue Mun Waterfront Enhancement Project, the public landing facility was opened for public use in June. It has provided better supporting facility for developing tourism products in the eastern waters of Victoria Harbour, and promoting the development of marine tourism. In particular, for the licensed ferry route plying between Sai Wan Ho and Sam Ka Tsuen, some of the existing departures from Sai Wan Ho to Sam Ka Tsuen has been operated via the new public landing facility at Lei Yue Mun on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. The service has commenced since June 28 on a trial basis for six months.

    In addition, the Legislation Council approved the amended Protection of the Harbour Ordinance (Cap. 531) recently. The introduction of a streamlined mechanism under the amended Ordinance has facilitated small-scale reclamations to promote harbourfront enhancement and to strengthen harbour functions. We will explore suitable locations for taking forward harbour enhancement works that can upgrade ancillary tourist facilities on both sides of the Victoria Harbour, by capitalising on the streamlined mechanism, with a view to better leveraging harbourfront resources and promoting tourism.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Online auction of vehicle registration marks to be held from July 17 to 21

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

    The Transport Department (TD) today (July 2) said that the next online auction of vehicle registration marks (VRMs) will be held from noon on July 17 (Thursday) to noon on July 21 (Monday) through the auction platform E-Auction (e-auction.td.gov.hk). Interested bidders can participate in the online auction only after they have successfully registered as E-Auction users.

         A spokesman for the TD said, “A total of 200 Ordinary VRMs will be available at this online public auction. The list of VRMs (see Annex) has been uploaded to the E-Auction website. Applicants who have paid a $1,000 deposit to reserve the Ordinary VRM for auction should also register as an E-Auction user in advance in order to participate in the online bidding, including placing the first bid at the opening price of $1,000. Otherwise, the VRMs reserved by them may be bid on by other interested bidders at or above the opening price. Auctions for VRMs with ‘HK’ or ‘XX’ as a prefix, special VRMs and personalised VRMs will continue to be carried out through physical auctions by bidding paddles and their announcement arrangements remain unchanged.”

         Members of the public participating in the online bidding should take note of the following important points:

    (1) Bidders should register in advance as an E-Auction user by “iAM Smart+” equipped with the digital signing function; or by using a valid digital certificate and an email address upon completion of identity verification. Registered “iAM Smart” users should provide their Hong Kong identity card number, while non-Hong Kong residents who are not “iAM Smart” users should provide the number of their passport or other identification documents when registering as E-Auction users.

    (2) Bidders are required to provide a digital signature to confirm the submission and amount of the bid by using “iAM Smart+” or a valid digital certificate at the time of the first bid of each online bidding session (including setting automatic bids before the auction begins) to comply with the requirements of the Electronic Transactions Ordinance.

    (3) If a bid is made in respect of a VRM within the last 10 minutes before the end of the auction, the auction end time for that particular VRM will be automatically extended by another 10 minutes, up to a maximum of 24 hours.

    (4) Successful bidders must follow the instructions in the notification email issued by the TD to log in to the E-Auction within 48 hours from the issuance of email and complete the follow-up procedures, including:
     

    • completing the Purchaser Information for the issuance of the Memorandum of Sale of Registration Mark (Memorandum of Sale); and
    • making the auction payment online by credit card, Faster Payment System (FPS) or Payment by Phone Service (PPS). Cheque or cash payment is not accepted in the E-Auction.

    (5) A VRM can only be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser. Relevant information on the Certificate of Incorporation must be provided by the successful bidder in the Purchaser Information of the Memorandum of Sale if the VRM purchased is to be registered under the name of a body corporate.

    (6) Successful bidders will receive a notification email around seven working days after payment has been confirmed and can download the Memorandum of Sale from the E-Auction. The purchaser must apply for the VRM to be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser within 12 months from the date of issue of the Memorandum of Sale. If the purchaser fails to do so within the 12-month period, in accordance with the statutory provision, the allocation of the VRM will be cancelled and a new allocation will be arranged by the TD without prior notice to the purchaser.

         The TD has informed all applicants who have reserved the Ordinary VRMs for this round of auction of the E-Auction arrangements in detail by post. Members of the public may refer to the E-Auction website or watch the tutorial videos for more information. Please call the E-Auction hotline (3583 3980) or email (e-auction-enquiry@td.gov.hk) for enquiries. 

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Import of poultry meat and products from areas in South Africa and UK suspended

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (July 2) that in view of notifications from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Mkhondo Local Municipality in South Africa and Wrexham County of Wales in the United Kingdom (UK), the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the above-mentioned areas with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

    A CFS spokesman said that Hong Kong has currently established a protocol with South Africa for the import of poultry meat but not for poultry eggs. According to the Census and Statistics Department, no poultry meat was imported into Hong Kong from South Africa in the first three months of this year. Moreover, Hong Kong imported about 210 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat, and about 440 000 poultry eggs from the UK in the first three months of this year.

    “The CFS has contacted the South African and British authorities over the issues and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation,” the spokesman said.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Import of poultry meat and products from areas in South Africa and UK suspended

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (July 2) that in view of notifications from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Mkhondo Local Municipality in South Africa and Wrexham County of Wales in the United Kingdom (UK), the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the above-mentioned areas with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

    A CFS spokesman said that Hong Kong has currently established a protocol with South Africa for the import of poultry meat but not for poultry eggs. According to the Census and Statistics Department, no poultry meat was imported into Hong Kong from South Africa in the first three months of this year. Moreover, Hong Kong imported about 210 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat, and about 440 000 poultry eggs from the UK in the first three months of this year.

    “The CFS has contacted the South African and British authorities over the issues and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation,” the spokesman said.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ3: Promoting development of “home-stay lodgings”

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Following is a question by the Hon Chan Hok-fung and a reply by the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, in the Legislative Council today (July 2):
     
    Question:
     
    There are views that expensive accommodation costs, as well as lack of variety and limited choices are related to the fact that only about 66 per cent of Mainland tourists stayed overnight in Hong Kong during this year’s Labour Day Golden Week, and that the Government should make good use of the natural resources in rural areas to develop home-stay lodgings, thereby extending tourists’ length of stay. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) as it has been reported that Japan has relaxed its regulations on home-stay lodgings in recent years to focus more on management requirements than on strict hardware facility standards for hotels and guesthouses, whether the Government has studied regulating home-stay lodgings in this direction; if so, of the details;
     
    (2) as there are views that Hong Kong has many rural locations with natural scenic beauty and potential for developing home-stay lodgings, such as Pui O and Mui Wo, whether the Government will study allowing village houses in such locations that have been issued with a Certificate of Compliance to automatically be eligible to operate as home-stay lodgings, in order to streamline the administrative procedures for applying to operate home-stay lodgings; if so, of the timetable; and
     
    (3) as it has been reported that a private kitchen in rural areas has encountered considerable difficulties when applying for restaurant licences, whether the Government will relax requirements in the light of the unique circumstances of rural areas, and proactively assist rural home-stay lodgings that also operate restaurants by processing licences for both simultaneously, so as to accelerate the development of home-stay lodgings?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,

    In response to the three parts of the question raised by the Hon Chan Hok-fung, having consulted the Development Bureau and the Environment and Ecology Bureau, my consolidated reply is as follows:

    The Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) under the Home Affairs Department is responsible for licensing and enforcement work under the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance (Cap. 349). The purpose of the Ordinance is to ensure that premises intended for use as hotels or guesthouses meet statutory building and fire safety standards to protect the safety of lodgers and the public. Moreover, as guests typically only stay in hotels or guesthouses during nighttime or for short periods and may not be familiar with escape routes, it is necessary to establish reasonable safety requirements to protect their safety. Under the current system, any premises providing paid short-term accommodation, including hotels, guesthouses or so-called “home-stay lodgings”, must comply with the building and fire safety standards stipulated in the Ordinance before being licensed to operate. The Ordinance does not impose special restrictions on or exclude “home-stay lodgings”. As long as the operation mode falls within the definition of hotel or guesthouse, an application for a licence to operate can be made, regardless of whether the premises is located in an urban or a rural area.

    The OLA has long been adopting a flexible and pragmatic approach in processing all licence applications to facilitate the operation of licensed premises. When processing hotel and guesthouse licence applications, the OLA ensures that premises under the applications meet basic safety requirements such as building and fire safety standards, while taking into account the scale and operation mode of the premises. Additionally, premises must comply with relevant requirements of the Ordinance, in order to safeguard the safety of lodgers and the public while balancing the interests of other owners of premises in the same building. Most of these requirements were introduced by the Amendment Ordinance in 2020, including the no-use restriction requirement (i.e. there should be no restrictive clauses in the deed of mutual covenant or Government lease of the premises concerned) and the person responsible for operating, opening, or managing a hotel or guesthouse must meet the fit and proper requirement. The application process does not impose additional restrictions for “home-stay lodgings” type operations. Upon receiving a licence application, the OLA will conduct an on-site inspection and formulate applicable licensing requirements based on the specific circumstances of each premises. The Government has always prioritised public safety as its foremost consideration while striving to foster the healthy development of the industry. As long as the safety of guests, other persons in the same building and the general public is ensured, the OLA will proactively facilitate the application and approval processes for licences.

    Currently, land leases for small houses in the New Territories generally permit non-industrial uses, including operation as guesthouses. Therefore, as long as the small house has obtained either a Certificate of Compliance or a “No Objection to Occupy” Letter from the Lands Department, no lease modification would be required. However, a guesthouse licence would still need to be applied for to operate a guesthouse so as to ensure the safety of lodgers and the general public.

    However, we understand that village houses in rural areas have their own unique characteristics and constraints. The OLA has always adopted a flexible and pragmatic approach in processing such applications, allowing applicants to propose alternative solutions on a case-by-case basis to meet the requirements for licensing, provided that building and fire safety are ensured. As long as there is no compromise of public safety, relevant departments will consider local situations when processing applications for rural and old village houses, with a view to facilitating applicants to meet the licensing requirements.

    As at May 31, 2025, 108 village houses in the New Territories or outlying islands in Hong Kong have been issued with guesthouse licences.

    In fact, to promote eco-tourism, facilitate visitors, and help revitalise desolate villages, the Government’s inter-departmental task force has formulated a series of streamlined measures to facilitate guesthouse and food business licence applications for some 90 countryside villages in the New Territories that have no vehicular access, taking into account the uniqueness of remote rural areas. These streamlined measures cover various aspects, including town planning, land, fire safety, building safety and sanitary requirements. Currently, relevant licences have been obtained for some guesthouses in Lai Chi Wo, a takeaway shop in Yim Tin Tsai, and a restaurant in Kuk Po under these streamlined measures. Based on these actual cases, the Government is sorting out the requirements, details, and implementation procedures of the streamlined measures and will compile a set of Guide to Application for reference by interested operators. The Government will continue to review room for enhancement in the licence application process for guesthouses and food businesses in countryside areas, with a view to creating a more business-friendly environment to support the work of countryside conservation and revitalisation. 

    ​Under the inter-departmental collaboration mechanism, the first batch of guesthouse licences was successfully issued for 11 village houses in Lai Chi Wo between December 2021 and September 2022.

    Thank you, President.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ3: Promoting development of “home-stay lodgings”

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Following is a question by the Hon Chan Hok-fung and a reply by the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, in the Legislative Council today (July 2):
     
    Question:
     
    There are views that expensive accommodation costs, as well as lack of variety and limited choices are related to the fact that only about 66 per cent of Mainland tourists stayed overnight in Hong Kong during this year’s Labour Day Golden Week, and that the Government should make good use of the natural resources in rural areas to develop home-stay lodgings, thereby extending tourists’ length of stay. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) as it has been reported that Japan has relaxed its regulations on home-stay lodgings in recent years to focus more on management requirements than on strict hardware facility standards for hotels and guesthouses, whether the Government has studied regulating home-stay lodgings in this direction; if so, of the details;
     
    (2) as there are views that Hong Kong has many rural locations with natural scenic beauty and potential for developing home-stay lodgings, such as Pui O and Mui Wo, whether the Government will study allowing village houses in such locations that have been issued with a Certificate of Compliance to automatically be eligible to operate as home-stay lodgings, in order to streamline the administrative procedures for applying to operate home-stay lodgings; if so, of the timetable; and
     
    (3) as it has been reported that a private kitchen in rural areas has encountered considerable difficulties when applying for restaurant licences, whether the Government will relax requirements in the light of the unique circumstances of rural areas, and proactively assist rural home-stay lodgings that also operate restaurants by processing licences for both simultaneously, so as to accelerate the development of home-stay lodgings?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,

    In response to the three parts of the question raised by the Hon Chan Hok-fung, having consulted the Development Bureau and the Environment and Ecology Bureau, my consolidated reply is as follows:

    The Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) under the Home Affairs Department is responsible for licensing and enforcement work under the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance (Cap. 349). The purpose of the Ordinance is to ensure that premises intended for use as hotels or guesthouses meet statutory building and fire safety standards to protect the safety of lodgers and the public. Moreover, as guests typically only stay in hotels or guesthouses during nighttime or for short periods and may not be familiar with escape routes, it is necessary to establish reasonable safety requirements to protect their safety. Under the current system, any premises providing paid short-term accommodation, including hotels, guesthouses or so-called “home-stay lodgings”, must comply with the building and fire safety standards stipulated in the Ordinance before being licensed to operate. The Ordinance does not impose special restrictions on or exclude “home-stay lodgings”. As long as the operation mode falls within the definition of hotel or guesthouse, an application for a licence to operate can be made, regardless of whether the premises is located in an urban or a rural area.

    The OLA has long been adopting a flexible and pragmatic approach in processing all licence applications to facilitate the operation of licensed premises. When processing hotel and guesthouse licence applications, the OLA ensures that premises under the applications meet basic safety requirements such as building and fire safety standards, while taking into account the scale and operation mode of the premises. Additionally, premises must comply with relevant requirements of the Ordinance, in order to safeguard the safety of lodgers and the public while balancing the interests of other owners of premises in the same building. Most of these requirements were introduced by the Amendment Ordinance in 2020, including the no-use restriction requirement (i.e. there should be no restrictive clauses in the deed of mutual covenant or Government lease of the premises concerned) and the person responsible for operating, opening, or managing a hotel or guesthouse must meet the fit and proper requirement. The application process does not impose additional restrictions for “home-stay lodgings” type operations. Upon receiving a licence application, the OLA will conduct an on-site inspection and formulate applicable licensing requirements based on the specific circumstances of each premises. The Government has always prioritised public safety as its foremost consideration while striving to foster the healthy development of the industry. As long as the safety of guests, other persons in the same building and the general public is ensured, the OLA will proactively facilitate the application and approval processes for licences.

    Currently, land leases for small houses in the New Territories generally permit non-industrial uses, including operation as guesthouses. Therefore, as long as the small house has obtained either a Certificate of Compliance or a “No Objection to Occupy” Letter from the Lands Department, no lease modification would be required. However, a guesthouse licence would still need to be applied for to operate a guesthouse so as to ensure the safety of lodgers and the general public.

    However, we understand that village houses in rural areas have their own unique characteristics and constraints. The OLA has always adopted a flexible and pragmatic approach in processing such applications, allowing applicants to propose alternative solutions on a case-by-case basis to meet the requirements for licensing, provided that building and fire safety are ensured. As long as there is no compromise of public safety, relevant departments will consider local situations when processing applications for rural and old village houses, with a view to facilitating applicants to meet the licensing requirements.

    As at May 31, 2025, 108 village houses in the New Territories or outlying islands in Hong Kong have been issued with guesthouse licences.

    In fact, to promote eco-tourism, facilitate visitors, and help revitalise desolate villages, the Government’s inter-departmental task force has formulated a series of streamlined measures to facilitate guesthouse and food business licence applications for some 90 countryside villages in the New Territories that have no vehicular access, taking into account the uniqueness of remote rural areas. These streamlined measures cover various aspects, including town planning, land, fire safety, building safety and sanitary requirements. Currently, relevant licences have been obtained for some guesthouses in Lai Chi Wo, a takeaway shop in Yim Tin Tsai, and a restaurant in Kuk Po under these streamlined measures. Based on these actual cases, the Government is sorting out the requirements, details, and implementation procedures of the streamlined measures and will compile a set of Guide to Application for reference by interested operators. The Government will continue to review room for enhancement in the licence application process for guesthouses and food businesses in countryside areas, with a view to creating a more business-friendly environment to support the work of countryside conservation and revitalisation. 

    ​Under the inter-departmental collaboration mechanism, the first batch of guesthouse licences was successfully issued for 11 village houses in Lai Chi Wo between December 2021 and September 2022.

    Thank you, President.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ19: Industry-related statistics and studies

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

    Following is a question by the Hon Jimmy Ng and a written reply by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, in the Legislative Council today (July 2):
     
    Question:

         In collaboration with the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau has earlier devised a domain of economic activities comprising manufacturing and new industrialisation-related industries in Hong Kong and released statistics on the economic performance of relevant activities, so as to reflect the economic performance of Hong Kong’s new industries more precisely. In addition, as stated in the 2024 Policy Address, the Government plans to commence a study on “the medium to long-term development plan for new industrialisation in Hong Kong” (the study) within this year to accelerate the promotion of “new industrialisation” with Hong Kong’s competitive edges. It is learnt that members of the industries expect that the Government will release more statistics and study reports on the relevant industries, in particular, statistics on the operating situations of Hong Kong manufacturing enterprises operating outside Hong Kong. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

    (1) whether the aforementioned economic performance statistics will also cover Hong Kong manufacturing enterprises operating outside Hong Kong; if not, of the reasons for that;

    (2) of the expected completion time of the study, and whether the scope of the study will cover the operating situations of Hong Kong manufacturing enterprises operating outside Hong Kong; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; whether the authorities will engage consultants to conduct such a study on a regular basis in the future; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

    (3) whether it will compile more industrial statistics and conduct more studies at different levels in future, e.g. whether it will, by drawing reference to C&SD’s statistical methodology for the statistics on offshore trade and merchanting activities, conduct a comprehensive survey on Hong Kong manufacturing enterprises operating in the Mainland and overseas, and develop regular statistical indicators on the offshore industrial sector for Hong Kong; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

    (4) as it is learnt that at present, the Key Statistics on Business Performance and Operating Characteristics of the Industrial Sector include statistics on import and export firms engaged in sub-contract processing arrangement and providing manufacturing-related technical support services, of the reasons why offshore sales are not covered in the aforementioned economic performance statistics?

    Reply:

    President,

         Our response to the question raised by the Hon Jimmy Ng, in consultation with the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), is as follows:

    (1) The statistics measuring the economic performance of Manufacturing and New Industrialisation-related Industries are compiled based on the statistical framework of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which covers resident producing units only. According to international statistical standard, as offshore enterprises are not resident producing units of Hong Kong, their economic activities are not included in Hong Kong’s Manufacturing and New Industrialisation-related Industries. However, Hong Kong enterprises that are engaging in data services, software development, and other related professional technical services for supporting Hong Kong-owned offshore manufacturing enterprises are included in Manufacturing and New Industrialisation-related Industries for measuring their contribution to the GDP of Hong Kong.

    (2) To further enhance the systemic development of new industries with a view to realising the top-level design and developmental direction set out in the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint, we will launch a study on the medium to long-term development plan for new industrialisation in Hong Kong, in order to better understand the current development of new industrialisation in Hong Kong and demands from the industry, and systematically analyse existing policy measures, thereby more effectively encourage traditional manufacturers to employ innovation and technology to undergo upgrading and transformation, support the development of strategic and emerging industries, as well as start-ups and future industries, strengthen support for relevant professional services, and expeditiously drive new industrialisation with Hong Kong advantages. We will launch the study within third quarter of this year. Thereafter, we will ask the consulting institution to conclude the study within 2026, and will, taking into full account the recommendations set out in the consultancy study report and Hong Kong’s local conditions, enhance and implement policies and measures that can drive new industrialisation, to support high quality development. As the tendering process is about to begin, we are unable to provide too much information at this stage. We will continue to closely monitor the development of new industrialisation in Hong Kong, and inspect existing measures or devise new ones in accordance with practical need, including but not limited to considering to launch further studies on new industrialisation. As of now, we do not have plans to regularly conduct relevant studies.

    (3) Regarding the offshore business of Hong Kong companies, in addition to compiling statistics on offshore trade and merchanting activities, the C&SD also compiles statistics (e.g. number of establishments, number of persons employed, value added of the industry and sales revenue) relating to the sub-contracting of manufacturing processes by Hong Kong import/export trading companies to the mainland of China (the Mainland) and other regions, in respect of Hong Kong companies which sub-contract their production processes to the Mainland and other regions according to contractual agreement.

    As regards business situation of non-local Hong Kong-funded companies, including those located on the Mainland and other regions, the  C&SD has practical difficulties in conducting statistical surveys outside Hong Kong to directly collect their data. As for the local companies related to these non-local companies, as the two are independent entities, the local companies concerned are often unable to provide the detailed operating data of the relevant non-local companies. Hence, the C&SD has no plan to compile detailed business statistics of non-local Hong Kong-funded companies.

    (4) As the global value chain continues to evolve, more sub-contracting manufacturing processes and related offshore activities have emerged. The compilation of related statistics is a challenge to the international statistical community. The United Nations Statistical Commission is reviewing and updating the current international standards on relevant macroeconomic statistics. The C&SD is also conducting research on related topics and reviewing the latest international statistical developments with a view to enhancing the relevant statistical systems.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ19: Industry-related statistics and studies

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

    Following is a question by the Hon Jimmy Ng and a written reply by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, in the Legislative Council today (July 2):
     
    Question:

         In collaboration with the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau has earlier devised a domain of economic activities comprising manufacturing and new industrialisation-related industries in Hong Kong and released statistics on the economic performance of relevant activities, so as to reflect the economic performance of Hong Kong’s new industries more precisely. In addition, as stated in the 2024 Policy Address, the Government plans to commence a study on “the medium to long-term development plan for new industrialisation in Hong Kong” (the study) within this year to accelerate the promotion of “new industrialisation” with Hong Kong’s competitive edges. It is learnt that members of the industries expect that the Government will release more statistics and study reports on the relevant industries, in particular, statistics on the operating situations of Hong Kong manufacturing enterprises operating outside Hong Kong. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

    (1) whether the aforementioned economic performance statistics will also cover Hong Kong manufacturing enterprises operating outside Hong Kong; if not, of the reasons for that;

    (2) of the expected completion time of the study, and whether the scope of the study will cover the operating situations of Hong Kong manufacturing enterprises operating outside Hong Kong; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; whether the authorities will engage consultants to conduct such a study on a regular basis in the future; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

    (3) whether it will compile more industrial statistics and conduct more studies at different levels in future, e.g. whether it will, by drawing reference to C&SD’s statistical methodology for the statistics on offshore trade and merchanting activities, conduct a comprehensive survey on Hong Kong manufacturing enterprises operating in the Mainland and overseas, and develop regular statistical indicators on the offshore industrial sector for Hong Kong; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

    (4) as it is learnt that at present, the Key Statistics on Business Performance and Operating Characteristics of the Industrial Sector include statistics on import and export firms engaged in sub-contract processing arrangement and providing manufacturing-related technical support services, of the reasons why offshore sales are not covered in the aforementioned economic performance statistics?

    Reply:

    President,

         Our response to the question raised by the Hon Jimmy Ng, in consultation with the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), is as follows:

    (1) The statistics measuring the economic performance of Manufacturing and New Industrialisation-related Industries are compiled based on the statistical framework of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which covers resident producing units only. According to international statistical standard, as offshore enterprises are not resident producing units of Hong Kong, their economic activities are not included in Hong Kong’s Manufacturing and New Industrialisation-related Industries. However, Hong Kong enterprises that are engaging in data services, software development, and other related professional technical services for supporting Hong Kong-owned offshore manufacturing enterprises are included in Manufacturing and New Industrialisation-related Industries for measuring their contribution to the GDP of Hong Kong.

    (2) To further enhance the systemic development of new industries with a view to realising the top-level design and developmental direction set out in the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint, we will launch a study on the medium to long-term development plan for new industrialisation in Hong Kong, in order to better understand the current development of new industrialisation in Hong Kong and demands from the industry, and systematically analyse existing policy measures, thereby more effectively encourage traditional manufacturers to employ innovation and technology to undergo upgrading and transformation, support the development of strategic and emerging industries, as well as start-ups and future industries, strengthen support for relevant professional services, and expeditiously drive new industrialisation with Hong Kong advantages. We will launch the study within third quarter of this year. Thereafter, we will ask the consulting institution to conclude the study within 2026, and will, taking into full account the recommendations set out in the consultancy study report and Hong Kong’s local conditions, enhance and implement policies and measures that can drive new industrialisation, to support high quality development. As the tendering process is about to begin, we are unable to provide too much information at this stage. We will continue to closely monitor the development of new industrialisation in Hong Kong, and inspect existing measures or devise new ones in accordance with practical need, including but not limited to considering to launch further studies on new industrialisation. As of now, we do not have plans to regularly conduct relevant studies.

    (3) Regarding the offshore business of Hong Kong companies, in addition to compiling statistics on offshore trade and merchanting activities, the C&SD also compiles statistics (e.g. number of establishments, number of persons employed, value added of the industry and sales revenue) relating to the sub-contracting of manufacturing processes by Hong Kong import/export trading companies to the mainland of China (the Mainland) and other regions, in respect of Hong Kong companies which sub-contract their production processes to the Mainland and other regions according to contractual agreement.

    As regards business situation of non-local Hong Kong-funded companies, including those located on the Mainland and other regions, the  C&SD has practical difficulties in conducting statistical surveys outside Hong Kong to directly collect their data. As for the local companies related to these non-local companies, as the two are independent entities, the local companies concerned are often unable to provide the detailed operating data of the relevant non-local companies. Hence, the C&SD has no plan to compile detailed business statistics of non-local Hong Kong-funded companies.

    (4) As the global value chain continues to evolve, more sub-contracting manufacturing processes and related offshore activities have emerged. The compilation of related statistics is a challenge to the international statistical community. The United Nations Statistical Commission is reviewing and updating the current international standards on relevant macroeconomic statistics. The C&SD is also conducting research on related topics and reviewing the latest international statistical developments with a view to enhancing the relevant statistical systems.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –