Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
43rd batch of applications approved for trials of green transport technologies under New Energy Transport Fund The Steering Committee of the Fund has adopted a merit-based approach to assess applications for funding with a view to making the best use of the Fund and taking into account factors including the latest technology developments. One application has been approved in this batch (Note) for the trial of an electric heavy goods vehicle as an aircraft tractor, involving a total subsidy of $1.5 million.
The Government put in place the Fund in March 2011 to subsidise the testing and encourage wider use of green transport technologies for a variety of commercial transport tools, such as goods vehicles (including special-purpose vehicles), taxis, light buses, buses, vessels, motorcycles, non-road vehicles (applicable to vehicle models approved by the Transport Department or the Airport Authority Hong Kong), or the aforesaid transport tools of charitable/non-profit making organisations providing services to their clients. The technologies to be subsidised include new energy vehicles or vessels, conversion of in-use conventional vehicles or vessels to new energy vehicles or vessels, and after-treatment emission reduction devices or fuel-saving devices applicable to vehicles and vessels. Transport operators and charitable/non-profit making organisations may apply for trying out different green technology products subject to a maximum subsidy of $10 million for each application and a total of $12 million for each applicant.
For more information on the Fund and the approved applications, please visit the website of the Fund (
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Civil Aviation Department (CAD) today (June 30) reminded the public that temporary restricted flying zones (RFZs) will be established in the areas around East Lamma Channel, Western Anchorage, Victoria Harbour and Tathong Channel from July 3 to 7. All aircraft, including planes, helicopters and small unmanned aircraft (SUA), will be restricted from entering the areas concerned. Other flying activities will also be restricted within the temporary RFZs.
“To facilitate arrangements for special operations, the CAD will establish temporary RFZs in the areas around East Lamma Channel, Western Anchorage, Victoria Harbour and Tathong Channel (see the respective areas indicated by red dotted lines in Annex I to IV) with effect during respective periods between July 3 and 7. No aircraft will be permitted to enter the zones, except for Government Flying Service flights.
“Other flying activities, such as the flying of model aircraft, kites and captive balloons, and mass release of small balloons, will also be restricted within the temporary RFZs,” a spokesman for the CAD said. ​ Airlines and pilots have been informed of the establishment of the temporary RFZs via the Notice to Airmen. The CAD has also announced the details of the temporary RFZs on the electronic portal for small unmanned aircraft “eSUA”.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Marine Department launches Green Maritime Fuel Bunkering Incentive Scheme to encourage relevant development The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has set an ambitious target to reach net-zero carbon emissions from international shipping by or around 2025. Under the key policy drive of the IMO, the international maritime industry is now undergoing an irreversible green transformation, and the use of low- or even zero-carbon fuels is quickly gaining popularity.
To complement and encourage the green transformation of the shipping industry, the Government promulgated the Action Plan on Green Maritime Fuel Bunkering on November 15, 2024, setting out clear targets, five green-centric strategies and 10 actions to support the development of green maritime fuel bunkering and trading in Hong Kong. One of the actions proposed in the Action Plan is to set up a Green Maritime Fuel Bunkering Incentive Scheme, which serves to encourage pioneer companies to develop green maritime fuel bunkering business in Hong Kong.
Considering that certain investments in preparatory work, including risk assessments by companies, are required before carrying out green maritime fuel bunkering, and the pioneer companies will help kick-start the industry development by paving the way and accumulating invaluable experience, incentives will be granted to these companies. Under the current tranche of the Scheme, which targets liquefied natural gas (LNG) and green methanol, an incentive of $500,000 will be granted to each pioneer company for each of its first two LNG or green methanol bunkering operations completed within one year from the MD’s acceptance of its risk assessment. Pioneer companies that have already completed the relevant assessments and/or bunkering operations before the Scheme launch are also eligible to receive incentives under the Scheme. The maximum amount of incentive for each type of recognised green maritime fuel is $2,000,000, and incentives will be disbursed on a first-come, first-served basis. Details are set out in the Introduction of the Green Maritime Fuel Bunkering Incentive Scheme in the Annex.
A spokesperson for the MD said, “Hong Kong, China, as an associate member of the IMO, has long been committed to supporting the IMO’s emission reduction target. At the same time, the development of green maritime fuel bunkering capabilities in Hong Kong will allow us to capitalise on the existing unique advantages of our port, including our location at the southernmost tip of China next to the international fairway, to maintain our positioning as a major bunkering port and international maritime centre. The Scheme will help encourage pioneer enterprises to start green maritime fuel bunkering businesses in Hong Kong early, as well as help level the playing field between pioneers and late joiners.”
“The MD has established a dedicated team that provides one-stop services to companies interested in setting up green shipping-related businesses in Hong Kong. At the same time, we also provide clear guidelines and support to companies interested in conducting green maritime fuel bunkering operations in Hong Kong, to facilitate their smooth completion of the relevant assessments and pre-bunkering procedures,” the spokesperson continued.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
HyD signs investigation, design and construction consultancy agreement for Hong Kong section of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Rail Link (Hung Shui Kiu-Qianhai) (with photo) A spokesman for the HyD said, “Construction of the HSWRL is a crucial initiative in support of thorough implementation of the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). It enhances the infrastructure connectivity in the GBA and facilitates Hong Kong’s better integration into national development. The HSWRL will connect the metro networks in the western regions of Hong Kong and Shenzhen. A trip from Hung Shui Kiu to Qianhai will only take approximately 15 minutes, which will help to foster the ‘one-hour living circle’ in the GBA and facilitate convenient cross-boundary commerce, work, living, study and travelling activities of the residents of the two places. The HSWRL is also an important transport infrastructure promoting the development of the Northern Metropolis, catering to the local travelling demand in the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area as well as Lau Fau Shan, Tsim Bei Tsui and Pak Nai areas. We aim to have the project ready for tendering in 2027, so that the detailed design and construction works can commence promptly, striving to achieve completion of construction works in 2034, followed by integrated testing and commissioning to realise the common goal of the governments of Hong Kong and Shenzhen to commission the HSWRL in 2035.”
The HSWRL is approximately 18.1 kilometres long (with the Hong Kong section and the Shenzhen section being about 7.3 km long and 10.8 km long respectively). The alignment will start from the west of Hung Shui Kiu Station under construction on the Tuen Ma Line, passing through Ha Tsuen and Lau Fau Shan, crossing Deep Bay and connecting to Qianhai via Shenzhen Bay Port. It is an underground railway line comprising a total of five stations, with three stations in Hong Kong (located in Hung Shui Kiu, Ha Tsuen and Lau Fau Shan respectively) and two stations in Shenzhen (located in Shenzhen Bay Port and Qianhaiwan respectively). Hong Kong and Shenzhen have agreed to establish the co-location of the immigration and customs facilities in Shenzhen and the depot will be located at Ha Tsuen.
The project provides opportunities for Hong Kong and Shenzhen to draw on each other’s strengths and experiences in taking forward railway projects, so as to further enhance the efficiency and quality of railway development and strive for excellence. The HyD endeavours to explore ways to combine Hong Kong’s flexibility and versatility with the Mainland’s strengths in infrastructure development. Through “dual-innovation” in policy and technology, the HyD will explore different implementation approaches with the goal to reduce construction cost and compress construction time. Issued at HKT 15:58
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to visit Portugal to promote development opportunities in GBA On July 3, Ms Chan will attend a business luncheon titled “Unlocking New Horizons: Affordable Housing and Opportunities in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area”, co-organised by the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development Office and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels. She will deliver a keynote speech to promote the enormous business opportunities brought about by the GBA to the Portuguese business community and how Hong Kong can play its important function as a “super-connector” and “super value-adder” between the two places.
During her stay in Lisbon, Ms Chan will call on the Chinese Embassy in the Portuguese Republic to learn about the latest developments in Portugal and Sino-Portuguese culture, and will also attend the International Forum on Urbanism there.
Ms Chan will return to Hong Kong on July 4. Issued at HKT 14:29
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Seventh batch of Arts Development Fund for Persons with Disabilities open for applications today The Government has endeavoured to promote the participation of PWDs in recreational, sports and cultural arts activities and provide them with appropriate activities and facilities. This aims to create opportunities for PWDs to develop their potential, enhance their quality of life and encourage their participation in group activities, promoting their full integration into the community.
The Arts Fund provides funding support for two tiers of arts projects. Tier One projects focus on providing elementary and ongoing arts programmes that enhance the arts knowledge of PWDs, foster their interest in the arts, and develop their potential. Tier Two projects are large-scale, impactful and sustainable projects which assist individual PWDs with significant artistic potential in pursuing careers in performing, visual or creative arts, enabling them to strive for excellence.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Government announced today (June 30) its financial results for the two months ended May 31, 2025.
Expenditure and revenue from April to May 2025 amounted to HK$129.7 billion and HK$55.9 billion respectively, resulting in a deficit of HK$78.4 billion after taking into account HK$15.5 billion received from issuance of Government Bonds and repayment of HK$20.1 billion principal on Government Bonds.
A Government spokesperson said that the deficit for the period was mainly due to the fact that some major types of revenue including salaries and profits taxes, are mostly received towards the end of a financial year.
The fiscal reserves stood at HK$575.9 billion as at May 31, 2025.
Detailed figures are shown in Tables 1 and 2.
TABLE 1. CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNT (Note 1)
Month ended May 31, 2025 HK$ million
Two months ended May 31, 2025 HK$ million
Revenue
17,448.6
55,906.5
Expenditure
(66,328.1)
(129,774.6)
Deficit before issuance and repayment of Government Bonds
(48,879.5)
(73,868.1)
Proceeds received from issuance of Government Bonds
9,435.9
15,534.8
Repayment of Government Bonds*
(20,070.1)
(20,120.5)
Deficit after issuance and repayment of Government Bonds
(59,513.7)
(78,453.8)
Financing
Domestic
Banking Sector (Note 2)
59,210.2
75,933.7
Non-Banking Sector
303.5
2,520.1
External
–
–
Total
59,513.7
78,453.8
* Being repayment of principal on Government Bonds and does not include the associated interest and other expenses.
Government Debts as at May 31, 2025 (Note 3) HK$298,332 million Debts Guaranteed by Government as at May 31, 2025 (Note 4) HK$123,199 million
TABLE 2. FISCAL RESERVES
Month ended May 31, 2025 HK$ million
Two months ended May 31, 2025 HK$ million
Fiscal Reserves at start of period
635,376.7
654,316.8
Consolidated Deficit after issuance and repayment of Government Bonds
(59,513.7)
(78,453.8)
Fiscal Reserves at end of period (Note 5)
575,863.0
575,863.0
Notes:
1. This Account consolidates the General Revenue Account and the following eight Funds: Capital Works Reserve Fund, Capital Investment Fund, Civil Service Pension Reserve Fund, Disaster Relief Fund, Innovation and Technology Fund, Land Fund, Loan Fund and Lotteries Fund. It excludes the Bond Fund, the balance of which is not part of the fiscal reserves. The Bond Fund balance as at May 31, 2025, was HK$216,896 million.
2. Includes transactions with the Exchange Fund and resident banks.
3. The Government Debts, with proceeds credited to the Capital Works Reserve Fund, comprise:
(i) the Green Bonds (equivalent to HK$177,761 million as at May 31, 2025) issued under the Government Sustainable Bond Programme. They were denominated in US dollars (US$9,950 million with maturity from January 2026 to January 2053), euros (4,580 million euros with maturity from February 2026 to November 2041), Renminbi (RMB34,000 million with maturity from June 2025 to July 2054) and Hong Kong dollars (HK$22,000 million with maturity from February 2026 to October 2026);
(ii) the Infrastructure Bonds (equivalent to HK$65,900 million as at May 31, 2025) issued under the Infrastructure Bond Programme. They were denominated in Renminbi (RMB19,000 million with maturity from December 2025 to May 2035) and Hong Kong dollars (HK$45,230 million with maturity from November 2025 to March 2045); and
(iii) the Silver Bonds with nominal value of HK$54,671 million (with maturity in October 2027 and may be redeemed before maturity upon request from bond holders) issued under the Infrastructure Bond Programme.
They do not include the outstanding bonds with nominal value of HK$168,090 million and alternative bonds with nominal value of US$1,000 million (equivalent to HK$7,841 million as at May 31, 2025) issued under the Government Bond Programme with proceeds credited to the Bond Fund. Of these bonds under the Government Bond Programme (including Silver Bonds with nominal value of HK$96,090 million, which may be redeemed before maturity upon request from bond holders), bonds with nominal value of HK$66,959 million will mature within the period from June 2025 to May 2026 and the rest within the period from June 2026 to May 2042.
4. Includes guarantees provided under the SME Loan Guarantee Scheme launched in 2001, the Special Loan Guarantee Scheme launched in 2008, the SME Financing Guarantee Scheme launched in 2012, and the Loan Guarantee Scheme for Cross-boundary Passenger Transport Trade, the Loan Guarantee Scheme for Battery Electric Taxis and the Loan Guarantee Scheme for Travel Sector launched in 2023.
5. Includes HK$250,041 million, being the balance of the Land Fund held in the name of “Future Fund”, for long-term investments up to December 31, 2030. The Future Fund also includes HK$4,800 million, being one-third of the actual surplus in 2015-16 as top-up.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Government announced today (June 30) the appointments of Mr Jacky Lio Veng-hei and Professor Hui Kai-lung as non-official members of the Industry Advisory Committee (IAC) on General Business (GB) of the Insurance Authority for a term of two years from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2027.
Welcoming the appointments, a spokesman for the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau said, “With their rich professional knowledge, we believe Mr Lio and Professor Hui will tender insightful advice to the IAC and facilitate the growth of the insurance industry.
“We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the two outgoing members, Dr Fung Hong and Professor Tang Heiwai, for their unwavering support and valuable contributions to the IAC during their tenure.”
The IAC on GB is a statutory committee established under the Insurance Ordinance (Cap. 41) to advise the Insurance Authority on matters relating to general business. Members come from different lines of business with expertise within the insurance industry, as well as from related fields such as fintech, medical, legal and academia.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
2025 edition of “Hong Kong as an Information Society” now available This publication presents statistics compiled from a variety of data sources relevant to the development of an information society in Hong Kong, including the recent developments in information and communication technology services, the external trade of information and communication technology goods and services, and the use and penetration of information technology in the business, household and government sectors. Analyses of the demand for manpower in the information technology field and development of relevant educational programmes are also provided.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
HA appeals to public for two patients requiring urgent liver transplants The spokesperson for the Hospital Authority (HA) today (June 30) made the following appeal regarding two patients whose condition requires urgent liver transplants:
Two patients who require urgent liver transplants are currently hospitalised at Queen Mary Hospital and are in critical condition. One of the patients has been experiencing severe hepatic and renal failure, entering the state of hepatic coma. He has developed hepatorenal syndrome and severe complications due to hepatic encephalopathy. The patient is currently in the Adult Intensive Care Unit due to his critical condition. He is intubated and requires mechanical ventilation to maintain life. The other patient has been experiencing severe liver failure and severe damage to his kidney function. He has developed severe complications due to hepatorenal syndrome. Both patients are clinically assessed as requiring urgent liver transplants and are listed at the top of the liver transplant waiting list, according to the blood groups.
In response to the urgent appeal from the patients’ families, the HA appeals to members of the public to proactively support organ donation and consider donating the organ of a deceased relative to rekindle the lives of others.
In view of the critical condition of the patients, in addition to proactively searching for suitable livers locally, the HA will also seek assistance from the Mainland through the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government as soon as possible. When a patient who is willing to donate an organ passes away and no suitable patient is identified to receive the organ on the Mainland, the cross-boundary organ donation and matching mechanism will facilitate a transplant in Hong Kong to bring hope to a critically ill patient.
The spokesperson emphasised that when a suitable liver is found, the HA will strictly follow the relevant organ transplant regulations and make an application with the authorities to ensure that all procedures comply with relevant standards and regulatory requirements. The HA will arrange transplant operations that aim to save the patient’s life as soon as possible.
For critically ill patients with organ failure, an organ transplant is often the only hope to extend their lives. When the families of deceased patients show a selfless act of love and donate the deceased person’s organs to save dying patients, it not only gives critically ill patients the hope of life, but also eases the hardship of their families. The HA appeals to the public to pass on their great love, blessing and care to those who are still fighting for their well-deserved lives. Issued at HKT 15:56
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Ensuring high-quality development with high-level security: Hong Kong National Security Law heralds fifth anniversary The spokesman said, “National security is a top priority as it forms the basis for a country’s existence and development. After reunification, Hong Kong had long been ‘undefended’ in terms of safeguarding national security. Anti-China elements and external forces continuously challenged the bottom line of the principle of ‘one country, two systems’, and even attempted to seize the power of governance. Unprecedented crises have been brought to Hong Kong by the ‘anti-national education’ incident in 2012, the illegal ‘Occupy Central’ movement in 2014, the Mong Kok riot in 2016, the ‘black-clad violence’ and Hong Kong version of the ‘colour revolution’ which lasted for more than ten months since June 2019, severely damaging Hong Kong’s societal, economic and business environment and caused the public to live in fear.”
“The Central Authorities acted decisively at a critical moment for Hong Kong. On May 28, 2020, the National People’s Congress (NPC) made a relevant decision on the basis of which, the NPC Standing Committee enacted, on June 30, 2020, the HKNSL which was then listed under Annex III to the Basic Law for local promulgation and implementation in the HKSAR. The HKNSL has addressed the shortcomings and plugged the loopholes in the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security of the HKSAR, playing the role of a stabilising force that immediately stopped violence and curbed disorder. The implementation of HKNSL was a ‘watershed moment’ in Hong Kong’s transition from chaos to order, as stability and safety of the city have been restored by the law.”
“Thereafter, with the concerted efforts of the HKSAR Government, the Legislative Council and all sectors of the community, the HKSAR fulfilled its constitutional duty last year by completing the legislation of Article 23 of the Basic Law. The Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO) took effect upon gazettal on March 23, 2024, improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms of the HKSAR for safeguarding national security. The HKNSL and the SNSO are compatible and complementary, building a strong line of defence to safeguard national security in Hong Kong.”
The spokesman emphasised, “The implementation of the HKNSL over the past five years has proven the law to be a ‘guardian’ in upholding the principle of ‘one country, two systems’ and in safeguarding the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong. It is an important and timely piece of legislation with profound historical significance. The HKNSL and other laws in safeguarding national security in the HKSAR firmly adhere to the principle of the rule of law while protecting the rights and freedoms in accordance with the law. At present, the business environment has continuously improved. Hong Kong ranks first as the world’s freest economy and third among global financial centres, and has returned to the top three in the world in terms of competitiveness, demonstrating that Hong Kong is moving full steam ahead along the path of ‘advancing from stability to prosperity’.”
“The laws for safeguarding national security in the HKSAR protect human rights. The principles of respecting and protecting human rights, as clearly and comprehensively set out, are embodied in the provisions of the HKNSL and the SNSO as well as in the manner in which they are implemented. Both Article 4 of the HKNSL and section 2 of the SNSO clearly stipulate that human rights shall be respected and protected in safeguarding national security in the HKSAR, and that the rights and freedoms, including the freedoms of speech, of the press, of publication, of association, of assembly, of procession and of demonstration, that Hong Kong residents enjoy under the Basic Law and the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as applied to Hong Kong, shall be protected in accordance with the law. The various provisions of the laws for safeguarding national security in the HKSAR are in line with international standards, striking a reasonable balance between safeguarding national security and protection of fundamental rights and freedoms.”
“In fact, the HKSAR has a solid, resilient foundation of the rule of law that is well-recognised by the international community. The law enforcement agencies of the HKSAR have been strictly taking law enforcement actions based on evidence and in accordance with the law. The Department of Justice of the HKSAR, by virtue of Article 63 of the Basic Law, controls criminal prosecutions, free from any interference. Independent prosecutorial decisions for each case are made in a rigorous and objective manner, strictly based on evidence and applicable laws and are in accordance with the Prosecution Code. Articles 2, 19 and 85 of the Basic Law specifically provide that the HKSAR enjoys independent judicial power, including that of final adjudication, and the courts of the HKSAR shall exercise judicial power independently, free from any interference. Cases will never be handled any differently owing to the occupation, political stance or background of the persons involved. In addition, Article 5 of the HKNSL and section 2 of the SNSO clearly stipulate that the principle of the rule of law shall be adhered to in preventing, suppressing and imposing punishment for offences endangering national security, including the principles of conviction and punishment only by the application of the law, the presumption of innocence, the prohibition of double jeopardy, and the right to defend oneself and other rights in judicial proceedings that a criminal suspect, defendant and other parties in judicial proceedings are entitled to under the law.”
“It is each and every sovereign state’s inherent right to enact laws safeguarding national security, and it is also an international practice. The HKNSL and the SNSO clearly define the elements and penalties of the related offences endangering national security, precisely targeting an extremely small minority of people and organisations committing in acts and activities that endanger national security, while protecting the lives and property of the general public. Law abiding persons will not engage in acts and activities that endanger national security and will not unwittingly violate the law, and therefore have no reason to be concerned. As a matter of fact, since the promulgation and implementation of the HKNSL, stability has been quickly restored in society. With the SNSO in effect, the rights and freedoms of the HKSAR residents and of other persons in Hong Kong are even better protected while the economy of Hong Kong is picking up.”
The spokesman reiterated, “Safeguarding national security is an ongoing and endless commitment. As mentioned in the ‘White Paper on China’s National Security in the New Era’ published by the Central Authorities on May 12, 2025, external forces have meddled more in China’s affairs, with an attempt to blockade, suppress and contain China through the so-called ‘Hong Kong issues’. Today, as geopolitical risks continue to escalate, the HKSAR Government will strive steadfastly to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, and improve the relevant legal system and enforcement mechanisms under the robust protection of the HKNSL and the SNSO, so as to address the evolving national security risks and challenges more effectively. We will also ramp up our efforts in publicity and education to arouse public awareness in safeguarding national security, thereby forming a societal shield to fend off external intervention, ensuring high-quality development with high-level security, continuously composing a new chapter in the practice of ‘one country, two systems’.”
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Process Review Panel for the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (PRP) published its 2024 Annual Report today (June 30), covering its work from May 1, 2023, to April 30, 2024.
The PRP Chairman, Mr Eugene Fung, SC, said, “Out of 6 557 cases closed or discontinued from May 1, 2023, to April 30, 2024, the PRP selected 29 cases for detailed review covering the core regulatory activities of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA). The PRP is delighted to note the considerable efforts made by the MPFA to enhance the consistency and transparency in its enforcement actions, and has identified room for continuous improvement in this regard. On this front, we have made various recommendations with a view to further promoting public confidence in the MPF System.”
He added, “Taking this opportunity, we would like to thank the outgoing members, Mr Allen Lau Kai-hung and Ms Grace Yu Ho-wun, for their valuable and constructive advice to the PRP during their six-year tenure.”
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
New requirement for application for or revalidation of local certificates of competency fully implemented today The Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) (Certification and Licensing) Regulation (Cap. 548D) stipulates that all local vessel operators must hold a valid local CoC.
To enhance marine safety, the MD has revised the eligibility criteria for applying for or revalidating local CoCs by introducing a medical fitness certificate requirement to ensure that holders of local CoCs are physically fit to operate vessels. The medical fitness requirement involves two categories of persons: Category I covers all applicants for the initial issuance or revalidation of any grade of local CoCs; Category II only covers coxswains and engine operators in charge of passenger vessels (i.e. Class I vessels) and vessels carrying gases, noxious liquid substances, oil, etc (i.e. Class II vessels with designated types) (collectively referred to as “high-risk vessels”).
All applicants for issuance and revalidation of local CoCs are required to submit to the MD a medical fitness certificate issued by a registered medical practitioner recognised by the MD together with the application form. Once issued, a local CoC will remain valid until the holder reaches the age of 65. Holders of local CoCs who wish to revalidate their CoCs after reaching the age of 65 will have to undergo and pass a medical assessment every three years. After reaching the age of 71, a holder must pass a medical assessment every year in order to revalidate the CoC.
Considering the relatively higher marine safety risks associated with operating high-risk vessels, all coxswains and engine operators of high-risk vessels are required to undergo a medical assessment every five years to ensure that they are physically fit to operate the relevant vessels. Operators of high-risk vessels must submit a copy of the medical fitness certificate to the MD for record after obtaining the certificate. This requirement will be implemented by the MD through adding a new licensing condition to the Operating Licences of relevant high-risk vessels.
The MD has already conducted extensive consultations with the industry regarding the new arrangements and detailed requirements, and has received support from various stakeholders, including the Legislative Council Panel on Economic Development, the Local Vessels Advisory Committee, trade associations, trade unions, and fishermen’s associations. The MD will continue to promote the new requirements to local CoC holders through various means.
For details about the latest requirements for application for or revalidation of local CoC, including the list of recognised medical practitioners, the medical assessment form, the examination rules for local CoCs and the relevant MD Notice, please visit the MD’s websiteIssued at HKT 15:05
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Secretary for Housing, Ms Winnie Ho, will depart for a visit to Lisbon, Portugal, tomorrow night (July 1). She will attend the International Forum on Urbanism on July 2 and speak at the forum on the various housing initiatives implemented by the Housing Bureau and the Hong Kong Housing Authority in recent years to enhance people’s livelihoods, encourage upward mobility, and promote innovative construction technologies, as well as the “Well-being design” guide launched last year.
During her stay in Lisbon, she will meet with relevant local officials. She will also officiate at a business luncheon co-organised by the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development Office under the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels, to share Hong Kong’s experiences in enhancing the quantity, speed, efficiency and quality of public housing construction by embracing various innovative rapid construction technologies and construction robotics, and continuously enhancing smart public estate management to build a more pleasant living environment for its residents. She also invited over 20 construction trade representatives from Hong Kong and the Mainland, including construction companies and consultant companies participating in the construction of public housing, Light Public Housing and transitional housing, to attend the luncheon. They will share in person with the participants Hong Kong’s experience in applying and promoting innovative construction technologies, such as Modular Integrated Construction (MiC), Multi-trade integrated Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MiMEP) and construction robots, and take this opportunity to strengthen connections between the Hong Kong and Portuguese trades and explore opportunities. Ms Ho will also call on the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Portuguese Republic.
Ms Ho will depart for Barcelona, Spain, on the evening of July 3 (Lisbon time) to visit local social housing projects, meet with relevant government officials to learn about housing issues there and their policies implemented, and promote Hong Kong’s housing ladder that encourages upward mobility, as well as the application of innovative construction technologies in Hong Kong’s public housing developments and management, the concepts of the “Well-being design” guide, and more.
Ms Ho will return to Hong Kong on the morning of July 6. During her absence, the Under Secretary for Housing, Mr Victor Tai, will be the Acting Secretary for Housing.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
HUE, Vietnam, June 30 (Xinhua) — A troupe from south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region performed a traditional Chinese opera in central Vietnam’s Hue city on Sunday.
The event, held at the Royal Theatre in the Imperial City of Hue, showcased the diversity of Chinese opera styles and attracted audiences including Chinese and Vietnamese officials as well as local residents.
The performance included live music, traditional costumes and scenes from Chinese opera.
The troupe’s tour, part of efforts to strengthen cultural ties between China and Vietnam, will continue in Ho Chi Minh City. –0–
Part of the appeal of the 2023 horror flick, M3gan, was that its titular antagonist managed to be two of the scariest villains of the genre in one – a killer robot, and a child’s doll come to life.
After nine-year-old Cady (Violet McGraw) tragically lost her parents, her roboticist aunt Gemma (Allison Williams of Get Out fame) brought M3gan home to help her niece with the traumatic transition. M3gan was to be Cady’s teacher, playmate and above all, protector. In classic horror style, she soon embarked on a murderous rampage in the name of “protecting” her ward.
The film was an instant cult hit, dubbed a “camp classic” thanks to M3gan’s TikTok dance moves and determination to destroy the nuclear family.
In M3gan 2, in cinemas from today, the filmmakers have leaned into that campiness even more. But, as horror expert Adam Daniel explains that doesn’t completely neutralise the terror. Instead, it reformulates it, offering a cathartic release that makes the subject matter more digestible.
If you’re looking for more traditional jump scares, 28 Years Later has you covered. Danny Boyle has returned to the franchise with this instant-classic of the zombie genre, which muses on both post-Brexit Britain and our collective experiences of the COVID pandemic. In this film, Europe has contained a “rage virus” to Britain. There are French boats on quarantine patrols, Swedish soldiers mocking remaining mainlanders and St George’s flags burning.
For COVID storytelling expert Lucyl Harrison: “The film ushers in a new age of ‘Vi-Fi’” (that’s virus fiction) “without succumbing to pulpy pandemic storytelling”. Ralph Fiennes offers a typically strong performance as the “mad” Dr Kelson, the only person determined to commemorate the virus’s ever-mounting dead.
I confess, I’m a bit of a baby when it comes to horror. So, I’ll need to follow up any zombie fare with something a little more comforting. My choice for this week is The Ballad of Wallis Island, which romcom giant Richard Curtis has dubbed “one of the great British films of all time”.
It takes place on the fictional Wallis Island, home to millionaire Charles (Tim Key), an almost obsessive fan of former folk-rock duo played by Tom Basden and Carey Mulligan. Invited to the island to play a private gig, they must face their musical and romantic past, all under the gaze of an ecstatic Charles.
The film was made in just 18 days on a tight budget in a typical Welsh summer – a doctor was on hand to stop the actors getting hypothermia when they filmed in the sea. It reminded our reviewer of another British comedy classic, Victoria Wood’s sitcom Dinnerladies, with its breadcrumb trail of slipped in details that provide laughter in the moment but which return to make the audience think twice.
When Poor Things won the Golden Globe for best picture last year, director Yorgos Lanthimos thanked everybody, from the cast and crew to his hero Bruce Springsteen. But one person who didn’t get a mention was Alasdair Gray, the Scottish artist and writer who wrote the novel the film was based on.
Now Gray is rightly being celebrated at Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. The unseen paintings in the new show Alasdair Gray: Works from the Morag McAlpine Bequest come from a donation of works he made after the death of his wife in 2014.
Highlights of the show include his original artwork for his novel Poor Things and the streetscape Gray called “my best big oil painting”, depicting Cowcaddens in Glasgow.
Pride month is coming to an end, but you can enjoy the movies in our Hidden Gems of Queer Cinema series year round. These articles highlight brilliant films that should be more widely known and firmly part of the canon of queer cinema. I’d particularly recommend Saving Face (2004), complicated romcom that tenderly depicts the experiences of queer Asian people.
Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.
Part of the appeal of the 2023 horror flick, M3gan, was that its titular antagonist managed to be two of the scariest villains of the genre in one – a killer robot, and a child’s doll come to life.
After nine-year-old Cady (Violet McGraw) tragically lost her parents, her roboticist aunt Gemma (Allison Williams of Get Out fame) brought M3gan home to help her niece with the traumatic transition. M3gan was to be Cady’s teacher, playmate and above all, protector. In classic horror style, she soon embarked on a murderous rampage in the name of “protecting” her ward.
The film was an instant cult hit, dubbed a “camp classic” thanks to M3gan’s TikTok dance moves and determination to destroy the nuclear family.
In M3gan 2, in cinemas from today, the filmmakers have leaned into that campiness even more. But, as horror expert Adam Daniel explains that doesn’t completely neutralise the terror. Instead, it reformulates it, offering a cathartic release that makes the subject matter more digestible.
If you’re looking for more traditional jump scares, 28 Years Later has you covered. Danny Boyle has returned to the franchise with this instant-classic of the zombie genre, which muses on both post-Brexit Britain and our collective experiences of the COVID pandemic. In this film, Europe has contained a “rage virus” to Britain. There are French boats on quarantine patrols, Swedish soldiers mocking remaining mainlanders and St George’s flags burning.
For COVID storytelling expert Lucyl Harrison: “The film ushers in a new age of ‘Vi-Fi’” (that’s virus fiction) “without succumbing to pulpy pandemic storytelling”. Ralph Fiennes offers a typically strong performance as the “mad” Dr Kelson, the only person determined to commemorate the virus’s ever-mounting dead.
I confess, I’m a bit of a baby when it comes to horror. So, I’ll need to follow up any zombie fare with something a little more comforting. My choice for this week is The Ballad of Wallis Island, which romcom giant Richard Curtis has dubbed “one of the great British films of all time”.
It takes place on the fictional Wallis Island, home to millionaire Charles (Tim Key), an almost obsessive fan of former folk-rock duo played by Tom Basden and Carey Mulligan. Invited to the island to play a private gig, they must face their musical and romantic past, all under the gaze of an ecstatic Charles.
The film was made in just 18 days on a tight budget in a typical Welsh summer – a doctor was on hand to stop the actors getting hypothermia when they filmed in the sea. It reminded our reviewer of another British comedy classic, Victoria Wood’s sitcom Dinnerladies, with its breadcrumb trail of slipped in details that provide laughter in the moment but which return to make the audience think twice.
When Poor Things won the Golden Globe for best picture last year, director Yorgos Lanthimos thanked everybody, from the cast and crew to his hero Bruce Springsteen. But one person who didn’t get a mention was Alasdair Gray, the Scottish artist and writer who wrote the novel the film was based on.
Now Gray is rightly being celebrated at Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. The unseen paintings in the new show Alasdair Gray: Works from the Morag McAlpine Bequest come from a donation of works he made after the death of his wife in 2014.
Highlights of the show include his original artwork for his novel Poor Things and the streetscape Gray called “my best big oil painting”, depicting Cowcaddens in Glasgow.
Pride month is coming to an end, but you can enjoy the movies in our Hidden Gems of Queer Cinema series year round. These articles highlight brilliant films that should be more widely known and firmly part of the canon of queer cinema. I’d particularly recommend Saving Face (2004), complicated romcom that tenderly depicts the experiences of queer Asian people.
Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.
Nato leaders agreed to ramp up defence spending to 5% of their countries’ economic output by 2035 at a summit in The Hague, Netherlands, on June 25. US president Donald Trump, who has spent months saying Europe should take more responsibility for its own security, described the pledge as “a monumental win for the US” and a “big win” for western civilisation.
A few months earlier, in March, the EU also launched its long-awaited white paper on defence. This provides a blueprint for improving Europe’s readiness to respond to military threats by 2030. On top of the fact that global military spending has surged in the past ten years, these developments indicate that the world’s largest nations now prioritise military over economic diplomacy.
One of the main ideas behind military diplomacy is that increased defence spending acts as a deterrent to future conflicts. The nuclear arms race between the US and Soviet Union during the cold war provides some support for this argument. The prospect of mutual destruction was so great that it acted as a deterrent to nuclear war.
But is increased defence spending really the necessary price for greater peace and prosperity? My research on interactions between firms, geopolitics and the political economy of defence indicates that this is no “big win” for society or economic productivity.
Deterrence requires a level of brinkmanship if it is to work. But as American economist Thomas Schelling pointed out in his 1960 book, The Strategy of Conflict, the problem with brinkmanship is that it relies on deliberately allowing a situation to get somewhat out of hand, with the intention of forcing the other party to back down.
This can result in strategic blunders. Efforts by the former US president, Richard Nixon, to engineer such a situation in 1969 by threatening to use nuclear weapons in Vietnam failed to gain credibility with the Soviets and North Vietnamese. This undoubtedly helped convince North Vietnam that it could survive the war and locked the US into a much longer conflict.
The recent confrontation between Israel and Iran also showed that brinkmanship can produce situations where there are significant casualties and no clear long-term resolution. Iran has long recognised that keeping itself near the threshold of nuclear weapons capability would offer a deterrent against external threats.
But this strategy created many opportunities for error. Israel claimed that Iran was too close to building a nuclear weapon and, alongside the US, launched strikes that they say inflicted significant damage on Iranian nuclear enrichment capabilities and military leadership.
Beyond this, it is unclear just how much military spending is needed to deter aggression. Nato allies have now committed to a big increase in defence spending – thanks largely to pressure from Trump.
However, even Nato’s previous objective that countries commit 2% of their national income to defence has proved unattractive for many governments. This has even been the case in post-conflict areas such as the Balkans, where Nato has had a heavy involvement.
A costly alternative
Boosting defence spending falls short on delivering economic prosperity, too. Analysing US military spending in the Vietnam war, economist Les Fishman noted in 1967 that military diplomacy was far more costly than its economic equivalent.
Military production requires continuously high levels of investment to maintain technological progress. This sucks public investment from other parts of the economy.
That’s not to say defence spending has an entirely negative effect on the economy. Studies have found evidence that US federal funding of military research and development results in significant increases in private business research in sectors such as chemicals and aerospace.
And, over the past decade, the value of venture capital deals in the US defence industry has grown 18-fold. This far outstrips sectors such as energy and healthcare. But such investment in military-related research and development is also often acknowledged as inefficient and not necessarily the best way to boost productivity.
Fishman pointed out that the Marshall Plan, which provided substantial economic aid to western Europe after the second world war, had a far higher return for the US.
Economic stabilisation kept the Soviet Union at bay for relatively small outlay compared to the Vietnam war, where casualties were of such a magnitude that it made any cost-benefit analysis meaningless.
Boosting defence spending also represents a lost opportunity to invest in more socially beneficial projects. This will worsen the climate crisis.
According to a study shared with the Guardian in May, the initial rearmament planned by Nato alone could have increased greenhouse gas emissions by almost 200 million tonnes a year. The expanded defence commitment will only increase this further.
Unlike defence, where the repurposing of civilian technologies for military uses carries a cost to society, many green investments involve beneficial substitutions that reduce the cost of a green transition.
The substitution of conventional fossil fuel heating and transport systems with heat pumps and electric vehicles, for example, is far more socially beneficial than repurposing civilian satellites for missile systems.
A final point is that military diplomacy is itself geopolitically destabilising. US efforts to contain communism in Asia during the 1950s and 1960s are a good example. Not only did such efforts see China align its trade with other communist states, it also ensured that self-reliance became a cornerstone of China’s economic strategy.
This all suggests that the current drive for deterrence-based military spending carries with it a huge cost for society that could ultimately prove economically wasteful and geopolitically destabilising.
Damian Tobin does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Nato leaders agreed to ramp up defence spending to 5% of their countries’ economic output by 2035 at a summit in The Hague, Netherlands, on June 25. US president Donald Trump, who has spent months saying Europe should take more responsibility for its own security, described the pledge as “a monumental win for the US” and a “big win” for western civilisation.
A few months earlier, in March, the EU also launched its long-awaited white paper on defence. This provides a blueprint for improving Europe’s readiness to respond to military threats by 2030. On top of the fact that global military spending has surged in the past ten years, these developments indicate that the world’s largest nations now prioritise military over economic diplomacy.
One of the main ideas behind military diplomacy is that increased defence spending acts as a deterrent to future conflicts. The nuclear arms race between the US and Soviet Union during the cold war provides some support for this argument. The prospect of mutual destruction was so great that it acted as a deterrent to nuclear war.
But is increased defence spending really the necessary price for greater peace and prosperity? My research on interactions between firms, geopolitics and the political economy of defence indicates that this is no “big win” for society or economic productivity.
Deterrence requires a level of brinkmanship if it is to work. But as American economist Thomas Schelling pointed out in his 1960 book, The Strategy of Conflict, the problem with brinkmanship is that it relies on deliberately allowing a situation to get somewhat out of hand, with the intention of forcing the other party to back down.
This can result in strategic blunders. Efforts by the former US president, Richard Nixon, to engineer such a situation in 1969 by threatening to use nuclear weapons in Vietnam failed to gain credibility with the Soviets and North Vietnamese. This undoubtedly helped convince North Vietnam that it could survive the war and locked the US into a much longer conflict.
The recent confrontation between Israel and Iran also showed that brinkmanship can produce situations where there are significant casualties and no clear long-term resolution. Iran has long recognised that keeping itself near the threshold of nuclear weapons capability would offer a deterrent against external threats.
But this strategy created many opportunities for error. Israel claimed that Iran was too close to building a nuclear weapon and, alongside the US, launched strikes that they say inflicted significant damage on Iranian nuclear enrichment capabilities and military leadership.
Beyond this, it is unclear just how much military spending is needed to deter aggression. Nato allies have now committed to a big increase in defence spending – thanks largely to pressure from Trump.
However, even Nato’s previous objective that countries commit 2% of their national income to defence has proved unattractive for many governments. This has even been the case in post-conflict areas such as the Balkans, where Nato has had a heavy involvement.
A costly alternative
Boosting defence spending falls short on delivering economic prosperity, too. Analysing US military spending in the Vietnam war, economist Les Fishman noted in 1967 that military diplomacy was far more costly than its economic equivalent.
Military production requires continuously high levels of investment to maintain technological progress. This sucks public investment from other parts of the economy.
That’s not to say defence spending has an entirely negative effect on the economy. Studies have found evidence that US federal funding of military research and development results in significant increases in private business research in sectors such as chemicals and aerospace.
And, over the past decade, the value of venture capital deals in the US defence industry has grown 18-fold. This far outstrips sectors such as energy and healthcare. But such investment in military-related research and development is also often acknowledged as inefficient and not necessarily the best way to boost productivity.
Fishman pointed out that the Marshall Plan, which provided substantial economic aid to western Europe after the second world war, had a far higher return for the US.
Economic stabilisation kept the Soviet Union at bay for relatively small outlay compared to the Vietnam war, where casualties were of such a magnitude that it made any cost-benefit analysis meaningless.
Boosting defence spending also represents a lost opportunity to invest in more socially beneficial projects. This will worsen the climate crisis.
According to a study shared with the Guardian in May, the initial rearmament planned by Nato alone could have increased greenhouse gas emissions by almost 200 million tonnes a year. The expanded defence commitment will only increase this further.
Unlike defence, where the repurposing of civilian technologies for military uses carries a cost to society, many green investments involve beneficial substitutions that reduce the cost of a green transition.
The substitution of conventional fossil fuel heating and transport systems with heat pumps and electric vehicles, for example, is far more socially beneficial than repurposing civilian satellites for missile systems.
A final point is that military diplomacy is itself geopolitically destabilising. US efforts to contain communism in Asia during the 1950s and 1960s are a good example. Not only did such efforts see China align its trade with other communist states, it also ensured that self-reliance became a cornerstone of China’s economic strategy.
This all suggests that the current drive for deterrence-based military spending carries with it a huge cost for society that could ultimately prove economically wasteful and geopolitically destabilising.
Damian Tobin does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense
Prize winners are awarded the “Best Poster Award” at the closing ceremony of the 6th Pan-Asia Pacific Regional Congress on Military Medicine in Beijing on June 27, 2025.
BEIJING, June 30 — The 6th Pan-Asia Pacific Regional Congress on Military Medicine concluded in Beijing on June 27, 2025. More than 240 representatives from military health departments of over 20 countries and 5 international organizations held in-depth exchanges on the development of military medicine.
The conference featured four dedicated exhibition zones covering combat casualty care, training injury prevention/treatment, traditional medicine, and medical equipment. 45 Chinese and foreign experts delivered specialized presentations covering cutting-edge fields including artificial intelligence, battlefield medical applications of unmanned aerial vehicles, biomedicine, and infectious disease prevention and control.
“In the current context of frequent regional conflicts, the development of military medicine is particularly important for international humanitarian operations,” said Hussain Al-Dahwi, head of Health Department at the International Committee of the Red Cross Regional Delegation for East Asia. He noted that China’s military medical forces have consistently been a steadfast force in practicing international humanitarianism and promoting military medical cooperation.
The Chinese military has deployed multiple peacekeeping medical units to conflict zones globally for medical support missions, conducted joint medical exercises and training with foreign counterparts such as the China-Laos “Peace Train,” China-Cambodia “Peace Angel,” and China-Vietnam “Peace Rescue” operations, dispatched the Peace Ark hospital ship for the “Mission Harmony” series of tasks, and actively participated in international humanitarian rescue work in natural disasters including the Nepal earthquake (2015) and Myanmar earthquake (2023).
By hosting this conference, China has established a premier platform for militaries of different countries to share combat medical expertise, and strengthened international military medical health cooperation.
Foreign attendees experience the traditional Chinese massage therapy during the 6th Pan-Asia Pacific Regional Congress on Military Medicine.
On May 22, 2025, the House of Representatives narrowly approved the tax, spending and immigration bill. The legislation, which passed without any support from Democrats, is designed to reduce federal Medicaid spending by requiring anyone enrolled in the program who appears to be able to get a job to either satisfy work requirements or lose their coverage. It’s still unclear, however, whether Senate Republicans would support that provision.
As I explain in my book, “Living Off the Government? Race, Gender, and the Politics of Welfare,” work requirements place extra burdens on low-income families but do little to lift them out of poverty.
Work requirements for TANF
TANF gives families with very low incomes some cash they can spend on housing, food, clothing or whatever they need most. The Clinton administration launched it as a replacement for a similar program, Aid to Families with Dependent Children, in 1996. At the time, both political parties were eager to end a welfare system they believed was riddled with abuse. A big goal with TANF was ending the dependence of people getting cash benefits on the government by moving them from welfare to work.
Many people were removed from the welfare rolls, but not because work requirements led to economic prosperity. Instead, they had trouble navigating the bureaucratic demands.
TANF is administered by the states. They can set many rules of their own, but they must comply with an important federal requirement: Adult recipients have to work or engage in an authorized alternative activity for at least 30 hours per week. The number of weekly hours is only 20 if the recipient is caring for a child under the age of 6.
The dozen activities or so that can count toward this quota range from participating in job training programs to engaging in community service.
Some adults enrolled in TANF are exempt from work requirements, depending on their state’s own policies. The most common exemptions are for people who are ill, have a disability or are over age 60.
To qualify for TANF, families must have dependent children; in some states pregnant women also qualify. Income limits are set by the state and range from US$307 a month for a family of three in Alabama to $2,935 a month for a family of three in Minnesota.
Complying with these work requirements generally means proving that you’re working or making the case that you should be exempt from this mandate. This places what’s known as an “administrative burden” on the people who get cash assistance. It often requires lots of documentation and time. If you have an unpredictable work schedule, inconsistent access to child care or obligations to care for an older relative, this paperwork is hard to deal with.
What counts as work, how many hours must be completed and who is exempt from these requirements often comes down to a caseworker’s discretion. Social science research shows that this discretion is not equally applied and is often informed by stereotypes.
Some of this decline happened because recipients got jobs that paid them too much to qualify. The Congressional Budget Office, a nonpartisan office that provides economic research to Congress, attributes, at least in part, an increase in employment among less-educated single mothers in the 1990s to work requirements.
Not everyone who stopped getting cash benefits through TANF wound up employed, however. Other recipients who did not meet requirements fell into deep poverty.
Regardless of why people leave the program, when fewer low-income Americans get TANF benefits, the government spends less money on cash assistance. Federal funding has remained flat at $16.5 billion since 1996. Taking inflation into account, the program receives half as much funding as when it was created. In addition, states have used the flexibility granted them to direct most of their TANF funds to priorities other than cash benefits, such as pre-K education.
Lawmakers in Congress and in statehouses have debated whether to add work requirements for Medicaid before. More than a dozen states have applied for waivers that would let them give it a try.
Georgia is currently the only state with Medicaid work requirements in effect, after implementing a waiver in July 2023. The program has experienced technical difficulties and has had trouble verifying work activities.
Other states, including Idaho, Indiana and Kentucky, are already asking the federal government to let them enforce Medicaid work requirements.
Then-Gov. Asa Hutchinson speaks during a news conference in 2017, in Little Rock, Arkansas, calling for Medicaid work requirements. AP Photo/Andrew DeMillo
But most people covered by Medicaid in that age range are already working, and those who are not would likely be eligible for work requirement waivers. An analysis by KFF – a nonprofit that informs the public about health issues – shows that in 2023, 44% of Medicaid recipients were working full time and another 20% were working part time. In 2023, that was more than 16 million Americans.
About 20% of the American adults under 65 who are covered by Medicaid are not working due to illness or disability, or because of caregiving responsibilities, according to KFF. This includes both people caring for young children and those taking care of relatives with an illness or disability. In my own research, I read testimony from families seeking work exemptions because caregiving, including for children with disabilities, was a full-time job.
The rest of the adults under 65 with Medicaid coverage are not working because they are in school, are retired, cannot find work or have some other reason. It’s approximately 3.9 million Americans. Depending on what counts as “work,” they may be meeting any requirements that could be added to the program.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that introducing Medicaid work requirements would save around $300 billion over a decade. Given past experience with work requirements, it is unlikely those savings would come from Americans finding jobs.
My research suggests it’s more likely that the government would trim spending by taking away the health insurance of people eligible for Medicaid coverage who get tangled up in red tape.
This article was updated on May 22, 2025, with details about the House of Representatives’ passage of the budget bill.
An additional 11,000 people moved into the city in the years 2023 and 2024, a small gain in a city with a population of 645,705 – but one which marked a symbolic shift.
The census data shows just over 1% growth in the past year alone and 0.7% the year before compared with a nearly 25% loss between 2000 and 2010.
As an urban sociologist studying issues related to race and ethnicity, I am interested in how Detroit’s population is changing, and where different groups live in both the city and its suburbs.
Analyzing population trends in the metro Detroit area using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, I wanted to understand how racial, ethnic and socioeconomic trends are unfolding, and what those changes can tell us about the evolution and vitality of Detroit.
Black Detroiters relocate, city diversifies
From 2010 to 2023, Detroit’s racial and ethnic makeup continued to gradually diversify even as the city was declining in population.
While Black residents are still the majority, their proportion of the total number fell from around 84% to 79%.
Other groups, in contrast, increased their share of the city’s population. Between 2010 and 2023, the percentage of Hispanic residents grew from 6.6% to 8.3%, the percentage of white residents grew from 8.2% to 10.7%, and the percentage of Asian residents grew from 1.3% to 1.7%.
These shifts reflect a steady and ongoing diversification of Detroit’s population, indicative of new migration trends and shifting neighborhood dynamics.
Suburbs in flux
In addition to Detroit’s recent population growth, a broader story is unfolding in the city’s suburbs.
The population of the suburban area as a whole increased 0.73% from 2023 to 2024, but growth was not evenly spread. Collectively, the outer-ring suburbs gained almost 20,000 people, increasing by 1%. Communities such as the city of Troy and Macomb Township accounted for a significant share of that growth.
A map of Detroit and the surrounding suburbs, with shading to indicate which areas are considered to be the ‘inner’ and ‘outer’ suburbs. Grigoris Argeros, CC BY
Inner-ring suburbs, such as Southfield, Warren and others, grew less vigorously – gaining just 4,000 people, or 0.31%.
These differences highlight the necessity of complicating the conventional city-versus-suburb narrative to acknowledge the many economic and racial divisions across the metropolitan region.
The socioeconomic statuses of residents of the inner- and outer-ring suburbs diverged between 2000 and 2020.
My analysis of census data shows that although both subregions witnessed increases in median household incomes, the rates of change were significantly higher in the outer-ring suburbs, with a 37.7% increase versus a 16.8% increase in the inner rings.
The data shows a similar trend in higher education attainment. Outer ring suburbs gained 7.1% more residents with college degrees or higher during this period, while the inner suburbs lost 7.5%.
Homeownership patterns in the two suburban regions also diverged over those two decades, increasing 18% in the outer rings and decreasing 10% in the inner rings.
The data on poverty and immigration also reveal contrasting results.
According to my calculations of census data, inner-ring suburbs experienced a 77% increase in poverty, while the outer ring experienced a lesser, though considerable, 50.8% bump in poverty during the 2000-2020 period.
Meanwhile, during the same time period, the foreign-born populations in the outer suburbs expanded by 24.9%, with increases of at least 10,000 in places such as Sterling Heights, Novi and Canton. In contrast, the inner suburbs saw more modest gains — around 5,000 in cities such as Dearborn Heights and Warren — while their overall foreign-born share declined by nearly 20%.
Together, the above trends highlight the necessity of not viewing the suburban area as a monolith. These patterns reflect national trends, in which many older, inner-ring suburbs are experiencing socioeconomic stagnation or decline while newer, outer-ring suburbs continue to attract more people who have higher incomes.
Mixed neighborhoods grow
Residential segregation also differentiates inner and outer suburban rings.
Segregation levels remain high in the inner suburbs, especially between white and Black residents. While outer suburbs tend to be more integrated today, the rate of change there has been more modest over the past two decades.
Social scientists measure segregation using a tool called the “dissimilarity index.” The index represents the proportion of one group that would need to move to establish an equal distribution of the population based on their relative numbers. It ranges from 0 to 100. A score of 0 means equal distribution across neighborhoods, while a score of 100 means the two groups live in completely separate areas.
From 2000 to 2020, white-Black segregation across the region decreased from 84.4% to 68.3% on the index, while white-Hispanic segregation decreased from 47.6% to 39.9%. Together, these numbers indicate a broader trend toward more integrated living patterns.
In the inner-ring suburbs, segregation fell across the board. White-Black segregation went down by 15.6%; white-Asian and white-Hispanic segregation dropped even more, by 43.2% and 30.7%, respectively.
These trends suggest that while the outer suburbs currently have lower levels of segregation, the inner suburbs are integrating more rapidly, reflecting shifting patterns of neighborhood change and increasing racial and ethnic diversity.
Detroit has come a long way since exiting bankruptcy in 2014. Its recent population growth and increasing diversity show important signs of renewal.
Grigoris Argeros does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: The Conversation – USA – By Sarah Burns, Associate Professor of Political Science, Rochester Institute of Technology
President Donald Trump is seen on a monitor in the White House press briefing room on June 21, 2025, after the U.S. military strike on three sites in Iran. AP Photo/Alex Brandon
In the wake of the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities on June 22, 2025, many congressional Democrats and a few Republicans have objected to President Donald Trump’s failure to seek congressional approval before conducting military operations.
They note that Article 1 of the U.S. Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war and say that section required Trump to seek prior authorization for military action.
The Trump administration disagrees. “This is not a war against Iran,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Fox News host Maria Bartiromo, implying that the action did not require approval by Congress. That’s the same view held by most modern presidents and their lawyers in the Office of Legal Counsel: Article 2 of the Constitution allows the president to use the military in certain situations without prior approval from Congress.
By this reading of the text, presidents, as commander in chief, claim the power to unilaterally order the military to initiate small-scale operations for a short duration. Members of Congress may object to that claim, but they have done little to limit presidents’ unilateralism. What little they have done has not been effective.
As I’ve demonstrated in my research, even though the 1973 War Powers Resolution attempted to constrain presidential power after the disasters of the Vietnam War, it contains many loopholes that presidents have exploited to act unilaterally. For example, it allows presidents to engage in military operations without congressional approval for up to 90 days. And more recent congressional resolutions have broadened executive control even further.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the U.S. declaration of war against Japan on Dec. 8, 1941. U.S. National Archives
A long tradition of executive authority
Presidents can even overcome the loopholes in the War Powers Resolution if the operation lasts longer than 90 days. In 2011, a State Department lawyer argued that airstrikes in Libya could continue beyond the War Powers Resolution’s 90-day time limit because there were no ground troops involved. By that logic, any future president could carry out an indefinite bombing campaign with no congressional oversight.
President Trump’s decision to bomb Iranian nuclear sites without consulting Congress falls in line with precedent from both Democratic and Republican leaders for decades.
Much like his predecessors, Trump did not, and likely will not, provide Congress with more concrete information about the legality of his actions. Nor are congressional lawmakers effectively holding him accountable.
After 9/11, Congress quickly gave up more of its power. A week after those attacks, Congress passed a sweeping Authorization for Use of Military Force, giving the president permission to “use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001.”
Congress regularly discusses terminating those authorizations, but has yet to do so. If Congress did, the loopholes in the original War Powers Resolution would still exist.
Those actions may have ruffled congressional feathers, but they were in keeping with a long U.S. tradition of targeting members of terrorist groups and protecting members of the military serving in a conflict zone.
Demonstrators outside the U.S. Capitol in January 2020 call on Congress to limit the president’s powers to use the military. AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana
Now, the U.S. attacks on Iranian nuclear sites have revived both fears of war and renewed questions about the president’s authority to unilaterally engage in military action. Presidents since the 1970s, however, have effectively managed to dodge definitive answers to those questions – demonstrating both the power inherent in their position and the unwillingness among members of the legislative branch to reclaim their coequal status.
Sarah Burns does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Devotees gathered in large numbers at Saraswati Dham in Jammu on Monday to collect tickets for the Amarnath Yatra, slated to begin on July 3.
Speaking to IANS, many people expressed unwavering faith in India’s security forces and emphasized that fear would not deter them from fulfilling their spiritual aspirations.
Shakshdeep Jha, who arrived from Mumbai with a group of 15 pilgrims, shared his excitement, saying, “I am very happy to be here. We will carry on the Yatra through the Pahalgam route.”
When asked about any apprehensions following the recent Pahalgam attack, he replied firmly, “We do not fear anything. Our forces are there to protect us. As long as we have our forces, we can go anywhere without fear. People should come here in large numbers without any fear.”
Another pilgrim, Deepak Sharma from Uttar Pradesh, spoke of his determination despite the rainy weather. “Even though it’s raining, we are very excited to be here. Right now, we will collect our tickets and proceed for the Yatra through the Pahalgam route,” he said.
He added that the large turnout of pilgrims would send a message of unity and resilience — “a slap in the face of terrorists.”
Maya Kaul, another devotee, echoed similar sentiments. “We are six people and will go through the Pahalgam route. We have full confidence in our forces, and there is no need to be afraid. I urge people to come in large numbers to the Amarnath Yatra.”
Among those standing in long queues amid the heavy rain was a group of 120 people from Bihar.
A devotee from Darbhanga said, “We are so excited to be here. We cannot express our joy. All the arrangements are excellent. We have complete faith in the Indian Army and are confident they will ensure the Yatra proceeds smoothly.”
Kajal Wangmare from Maharashtra said she had been standing in line since 3 a.m. “It’s raining, but we are just happy to be here. We know we will have a memorable pilgrimage and return with happy memories,” she told IANS.
Vikramjeet from Delhi also shared his thoughts, saying, “We are very excited. I also want to send a message to everyone: there is no need to be afraid. The arrangements here are very good, and we are not facing any problems. We believe in our Army, and we are not afraid of anything.”
Meanwhile, security forces on Monday carried out an extensive joint mock drill along the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway as part of the final preparations for the annual Yatra.
The exercise aimed to ensure the safety and readiness of the security forces and civil administration ahead of the pilgrimage. Buses were escorted under full security cover during the drill to test the coordination and preparedness of various security units.
The exercise simulated emergency scenarios such as landslides and other natural disasters, focusing on rapid response, evacuation, and medical aid for stranded pilgrims.
The simulation involved rescuing trapped vehicles, administering immediate first aid to the injured, and coordinating swift relief efforts through integrated disaster response and security teams.
The first batch of pilgrims will be flagged off from the Jammu base camp on July 2. The Yatra will commence the following day via both the Pahalgam and Baltal routes.
Nearly 88 per cent of global enterprises now have dedicated budgets for Artificial Intelligence (AI), with nearly two-thirds of them spending over 15 per cent of their overall tech budgets on AI projects, a new report said on Monday.
This major investment push marks a clear shift from early experimentation with Generative AI to building intelligent, goal-oriented systems known as AI agents, according to data compiled by Nasscom.
Titled ‘Enterprise Experiments with AI Agents – 2025 Global Trends,’ the report provides a comprehensive look at how companies across the globe are preparing for the next phase of AI adoption.
Sangeeta Gupta, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at Nasscom, said that enterprises are at a crucial turning point.
“AI agents represent the next evolution of enterprise AI — one that requires philosophical shifts in how we view work, intelligence, and autonomy,” she said.
However, she also emphasised that scaling AI systems responsibly would require strong trust, data readiness, and continuous human oversight.
Based on responses from over 100 companies across 8–9 global regions and more than 10 industries, the study shows how enterprises are moving beyond passive data analysis to more active AI systems that can perform tasks and make decisions with human oversight.
The report shows that businesses are strengthening their AI foundation through investments in GenAI tools, data infrastructure, and flexible processes.
Many companies have already formed specialised AI teams and are working with advanced platforms, upgrading their tech setups to support the deployment of AI agents.
However, despite high awareness of Generative AI, only half of the surveyed companies are fine-tuning large language models (LLMs) or foundation models for their own needs.
One of the biggest highlights of the report is the growing interest in Agentic AI — systems designed to act independently while still being monitored by humans.
About 62 per cent of companies are experimenting with such AI agents, mainly for internal tasks such as IT operations, HR, and finance.
External uses, like customer service, are still limited, with only 31 per cent of enterprises using Agentic AI in those areas.
However, looking ahead, 88 per cent of companies plan to set aside budgets specifically for Agentic AI systems in 2025.
The report also reveals that most companies are being cautious. Around 77 per cent are designing Agentic AI systems with a ‘human-in-the-loop’ model to ensure oversight and adaptability.
Only 46 per cent are testing fully autonomous agents. Manufacturing companies appear to be ahead in adoption, using AI for robotics, quality control, and other operational areas.
When it comes to benefits, companies believe AI agents can help in making faster decisions and responding better to market changes, the report said.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Government welcomes publication of annual report of Process Review Panel for the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority A spokesman for the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau said, “The PRP has conducted a thorough review of the internal procedures and operational guidelines relating to the MPFA’s performance of its core regulatory activities, including the approval and registration of Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) trustees, schemes and funds, regulation of MPF trustees and intermediaries, regulation of occupational retirement schemes, and handling of complaints. The Report’s observations and suggestions will help ensure the fair and consistent exercise of regulatory powers by the MPFA, thereby strengthening public confidence and contributing to the continuous improvement of Hong Kong’s retirement protection system.
“We would like to express sincere gratitude to the PRP Chairman, Mr Eugene Fung, SC, and members of the PRP for their dedication in providing comprehensive and insightful comments and recommendations to enhance the work of the MPFA and the operation of the MPF System,” the spokesman added.
The PRP is an independent panel established by the Chief Executive to review and advise the MPFA on the adequacy and consistency of its internal procedures and operational guidelines relating to the MPFA’s regulation of MPF intermediaries. Since November 2021, the PRP has been renamed and taken on an expanded role to review the internal procedures of all the MPFA’s core regulatory activities.
Victims have been trafficked into criminality from more than 60 countries around the world
West Africa is emerging as a potential regional hub for online scam centres
LYON, France: Human trafficking-fueled scam centres have expanded their global footprint, according to a new crime trend update released by INTERPOL.
As of March 2025, victims from 66 countries were trafficked into online scam centres, with no continent left untouched.
Seventy-four percent of human trafficking victims were brought to centres in the original ‘hub’ region of Southeast Asia, according to analysis of the crime trend using data from relevant INTERPOL Notices issued in the past five years.
However, online scam centres have increasingly been observed in other regions, including the Middle East, West Africa – which could be developing into a new regional hub – and Central America.
While approximately 90 percent of human trafficking facilitators were from Asia, 11 per cent were from South America or Africa.
Eighty per cent of facilitators were men, and 61 per cent were aged between 20 and 39 years old.
Global crisis
Initially concentrated in a handful of Southeast Asian countries, the centres are estimated to have drawn in hundreds of thousands of human trafficking victims, typically through false job ads, detaining them in compounds and forcing them to carry out online social engineering scams.
While not every person committing fraud in a scam centre is a victim of human trafficking, those held against their will are often subject to extortion through debt bondage, as well as beatings, sexual exploitation, torture and rape.
Online scams engineered by the centres target a second set of globally-dispersed victims, who often suffer debilitating financial and emotional damage.
Since 2023, INTERPOL has documented how this double-edged crime trend has evolved from a regional threat in Southeast Asia to a global crisis, issuing an Orange Notice to signal its serious and imminent threat to public safety.
The INTERPOL update also highlights how emerging technologies and convergence with other major crime areas could transform human trafficking-fueled scam centres as the crime trend continues to evolve.
The use of artificial intelligence has been observed in a growing number of scamming cases.
AI has been used to develop convincing fake job ads that attract human trafficking victims as well as generate online photos or profiles through ‘deepfake’ technology for sextortion and romance scams, among other social engineering schemes.
Moreover, reports analysed by INTERPOL show that the same routes used to traffic victims to scam centres can be used to traffic drugs, firearms and protected wildlife species.
The areas where scam centres have emerged in Southeast Asia are also key hubs for the trafficking of endangered species such as tigers or pangolins, making criminal diversification likely.
Cyril Gout, Acting Executive Director of Police Services at INTERPOL, said:
“The reach of online scam centres spans the globe and represents a dynamic and persistent global challenge.”
“Tackling this rapidly globalizing threat requires a coordinated international response. We must increase the exchange of information between law enforcement in the growing number of countries affected and strengthen partnerships with NGOs that help victims and technology companies whose platforms are being exploited.”
SHANGHAI, China, June 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Qifu Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: QFIN; HKEx: 3660) (“Qifu Technology” or the “Company”), a leading AI-empowered Credit-Tech platform in China, today announced that the following proposed resolutions submitted for shareholder approval have been duly adopted at its annual general meeting of shareholders held today:
as a special resolution, THAT, the English name of the Company be changed from “Qifu Technology, Inc.” to “Qfin Holdings, Inc.”;
as a special resolution, THAT, the Third Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company currently in effect be amended and restated by the deletion in their entirety and by the substitution in their place of the Fourth Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association in the form attached as Appendix I to the Notice of the Annual General Meeting;
as an ordinary resolution, THAT, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP shall be re-appointed as the auditor of the Company to hold office until the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company and to authorize the Board to fix their remuneration for the year ending December 31, 2025; and
as an ordinary resolution, THAT, Mr. Xiangge Liu shall be re-elected as a director of the Company at the Annual General Meeting and retain office until his retirement pursuant to the Company’s memorandum and articles of association.
AboutQifu Technology
Qifu Technology is a leading AI-empowered Credit-Tech platform in China. By leveraging its sophisticated machine learning models and data analytics capabilities, the Company provides a comprehensive suite of technology services to assist financial institutions and consumers and SMEs in the loan lifecycle, ranging from borrower acquisition, preliminary credit assessment, fund matching and post-facilitation services. The Company is dedicated to making credit services more accessible and personalized to consumers and SMEs through Credit-Tech services to financial institutions.
For more information, please visit: https://ir.qifu.tech.
Safe Harbor Statement
Any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates” and similar statements. Among other things, the business outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as the Company’s strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. Qifu Technology may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), in announcements made on the website of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “Hong Kong Stock Exchange”), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including the Company’s business outlook, beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, which factors include but not limited to the following: the Company’s growth strategies, changes in laws, rules and regulatory environments, the recognition of the Company’s brand, market acceptance of the Company’s products and services, trends and developments in the credit-tech industry, governmental policies relating to the credit-tech industry, general economic conditions in China and around the globe, and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks and uncertainties is included in Qifu Technology’s filings with the SEC and announcements on the website of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Qifu Technology does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.
SHANGHAI, China, June 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Qifu Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: QFIN; HKEx: 3660) (“Qifu Technology” or the “Company”), a leading AI-empowered Credit-Tech platform in China, today announced that the following proposed resolutions submitted for shareholder approval have been duly adopted at its annual general meeting of shareholders held today:
as a special resolution, THAT, the English name of the Company be changed from “Qifu Technology, Inc.” to “Qfin Holdings, Inc.”;
as a special resolution, THAT, the Third Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company currently in effect be amended and restated by the deletion in their entirety and by the substitution in their place of the Fourth Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association in the form attached as Appendix I to the Notice of the Annual General Meeting;
as an ordinary resolution, THAT, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP shall be re-appointed as the auditor of the Company to hold office until the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company and to authorize the Board to fix their remuneration for the year ending December 31, 2025; and
as an ordinary resolution, THAT, Mr. Xiangge Liu shall be re-elected as a director of the Company at the Annual General Meeting and retain office until his retirement pursuant to the Company’s memorandum and articles of association.
AboutQifu Technology
Qifu Technology is a leading AI-empowered Credit-Tech platform in China. By leveraging its sophisticated machine learning models and data analytics capabilities, the Company provides a comprehensive suite of technology services to assist financial institutions and consumers and SMEs in the loan lifecycle, ranging from borrower acquisition, preliminary credit assessment, fund matching and post-facilitation services. The Company is dedicated to making credit services more accessible and personalized to consumers and SMEs through Credit-Tech services to financial institutions.
For more information, please visit: https://ir.qifu.tech.
Safe Harbor Statement
Any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates” and similar statements. Among other things, the business outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as the Company’s strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. Qifu Technology may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), in announcements made on the website of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “Hong Kong Stock Exchange”), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including the Company’s business outlook, beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, which factors include but not limited to the following: the Company’s growth strategies, changes in laws, rules and regulatory environments, the recognition of the Company’s brand, market acceptance of the Company’s products and services, trends and developments in the credit-tech industry, governmental policies relating to the credit-tech industry, general economic conditions in China and around the globe, and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks and uncertainties is included in Qifu Technology’s filings with the SEC and announcements on the website of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Qifu Technology does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.
The Marine Department today announced a new requirement in applications for local certificates of competency (CoC), or their revalidation, whereby a medical fitness certificate issued by a recognised medical practitioner must be submitted.
To enhance marine safety, the department has revised the eligibility criteria for local CoCs. Introducing a medical fitness certificate requirement will ensure certificate holders are physically fit to operate vessels.
The new requirement involves two categories of people. Category I covers all applicants for initial issuance or revalidation of any grade of local CoC. Category II only covers coxswains and engine operators in charge of passenger vessels and “high-risk vessels” carrying substances such as gases, noxious liquid substances or oil.
All applicants for issuance or revalidation of local CoCs must submit a medical fitness certificate issued by a registered medical practitioner recognised by the department together with their application form.
Once issued, the local certificates will remain valid until the holder reaches the age of 65. Holders of local certificates who wish to revalidate their CoCs after reaching 65 will have to pass a medical assessment every three years.
After reaching the age of 71, a holder must pass a medical assessment every year to revalidate the CoC.
Considering the higher marine safety risks involved, all coxswains and engine operators of high-risk vessels need to undergo a medical assessment every five years to ensure they are physically fit to operate the relevant vessels.
Operators of high-risk vessels must submit a copy of their medical fitness certificate to the Marine Department for record after obtaining the certificate. This requirement will be implemented with the addition of a new licensing condition to the Operating Licences of high-risk vessels.
The department conducted extensive consultations with the industry regarding the new arrangements, and received support from stakeholders including the Legislative Council Economic Development Panel, the Local Vessels Advisory Committee, trade associations, trade unions and fishermen’s associations.
Click here for details concerning the latest requirements for local CoCs.
