NewzIntel.com

Category: China

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Hong Kong resident rescued from detention in Southeast Asian country returns to Hong Kong smoothly

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Hong Kong resident rescued from detention in Southeast Asian country returns to Hong Kong smoothly
    Hong Kong resident rescued from detention in Southeast Asian country returns to Hong Kong smoothly
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         The Security Bureau (SB) today (January 28) said that a Hong Kong resident, who had been detained for illegal work in Myanmar and was recently rescued, has smoothly returned to Hong Kong from Thailand last night (January 27) with members of the SB’s dedicated task force.     The dedicated task force set off for Bangkok on January 21 to follow-up promptly on the case upon confirmation that a Hong Kong resident had been rescued in Myanmar and arrived in Thailand. With the co-ordination and liaison with different units by the task force over the past few days and concerted efforts by various parties, the individual was able to return to Hong Kong in a short period of time and reunite with his family before the Chinese New Year.      The dedicated task force expressed gratitude to the Thai authorities for their humane way of handling the case with the approach of special arrangements for special circumstances by compressing the procedures to within a few days, allowing the Hong Kong resident to return to Hong Kong as soon as possible. While meeting the rescued Hong Kong resident in the detention centre in Bangkok, members of the task force were moved to be able to bring the individual back to Hong Kong and return home together. The Hong Kong resident expressed gratitude for the visit to Thailand by the task force members to follow up on his case. He was also very pleased to learn that he would be able to return to Hong Kong to reunite with his family before the Chinese New Year.      The SB thanked various parties, including the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Chinese Embassy in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the Chinese Embassy in the Kingdom of Thailand, the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Chiang Mai, the Consulate-General of Myanmar in Hong Kong, the Royal Thai Consulate-General, Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Bangkok, and the relevant Thai authorities for their support and assistance.     The dedicated task force has all along been following up proactively on the remaining 10 request-for-assistance cases in which the relevant people have not yet returned to Hong Kong, including maintaining communication, exchanging intelligence and sparing no efforts in following up on each case with the Director of Special Investigation and the Director of Human Trafficking under the Ministry of Justice of Thailand during the team’s stay in Thailand. A member of the dedicated task force will stay in Bangkok to strive to do his utmost for the early return of the remaining 10 people to Hong Kong.

     
    Ends/Tuesday, January 28, 2025Issued at HKT 1:29

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: Credit Agricole SA : Crédit Agricole Personal Finance & Mobility finalizes the GAC Leasing equity project to support the growth of GAC Group’s electric vehicle sales in China

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Massy – January 27th, 2025

    Crédit Agricole Personal Finance & Mobility
    finalizes the GAC Leasing equity project to support the growth of GAC Group’s electric vehicle sales in China

    • CA Personal Finance & Mobility finalizes the planned acquisition of 50% of the equity interests of GAC Finance Leasing Co. Ltd. (GAC Leasing), which becomes Guangzhou GAC-Sofinco Finance Leasing Co Ltd (GAC-Sofinco Leasing), the leasing company of one of the largest Chinese manufacturers Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd. (GAC Group), via a reserved capital increase.
    • With this new joint venture, CA Personal Finance & Mobility will offer financial and operational leasing solutions on the Chinese market in 2025 and will thus promote the deployment of electric vehicles in China.
    • This transaction consolidates a partnership existing since 2009 between CA Personal Finance & Mobility and GAC Group with the creation of GAC-Sofinco AFC, a 50-50 joint venture. The latter operates throughout China and offers automotive financing and services to the GAC-Honda, GAC-Toyota, AION, HYPTEC and GAC Motor networks, serving more than 3,000 dealers.

    CA Personal Finance & Mobility becomes a 50% shareholder in GAC-Sofinco Leasing

    Following a reserved capital increase, CA Personal Finance & Mobility owns 50% of GAC-Sofinco Leasing. The company has been operating on the Chinese market since 2004 and offers financial and operational leasing solutions to GAC customers and its dealer network.

    Through this transaction, CA Personal Finance & Mobility and GAC group are strengthening the leasing offer proposed to Chinese customers, thereby stimulating the sale of electric vehicles, which already represent 60% of the leasing contracts of the new GAC-Sofinco Leasing on a portfolio of more than 200,000 vehicles.

    All necessary authorizations from competition authorities and competent regulators have been obtained. The impact on the CET1 ratio of Crédit Agricole S.A. and that of the Crédit Agricole group will be very limited. 

    « This transaction reaffirms the importance of our long-standing partnership with GAC group. It will enable us to support together and over the long term the development of the particularly dynamic electric automobile market in China. »

    Stéphane PRIAMI – CEO of Crédit Agricole Personal Finance & Mobility

    Key figures:

    • In 2023, GAC group was the 4th largest automotive group in China
    • More than 2.5 million vehicles sold in 2023 worldwide
    • 39,90% of electrified vehicles sold in 2023

    Press Contact

    Adeline Tardif
    presse@ca-cf.fr
    +33 (0)1 87 38 02 88 / +33 (0)6 20 18 84 92

    About Crédit Agricole Personal Finance & Mobility

    Crédit Agricole Personal Finance & Mobility is a leader in personal financing and a provider of access to all mobility solutions in Europe. It distributes directly, at the point of sale or on its partners’ e-commerce platforms, a wide range of financing solutions – amortizable credit, revolving credit, leasing and credit buyback – with associated services including insurance, split payment solutions and services dedicated to mobility, with the aim of meeting the challenges of energy transition in mobility, housing and consumption. Its financing solutions and services are offered in France via Sofinco, in Italy via Agos, in Germany via Creditplus, in Portugal via Credibom, in Spain via Sofinco Espana, in Morocco via Wafasalaf, and in China via GAC-Sofinco (automotive financing only). Crédit Agricole Personal Finance & Mobility aims to be the leader in electric mobility in Europe and offers a mobility continuum in the 22 countries where it is present (leasing, medium and short-term rental, subscription, car sharing, installation of charging stations, etc.). The company relies on Leasys, a joint venture equally owned by Stellantis, CA Auto Bank and Drivalia, the pan-European leader in automotive financing, rental and mobility, Crédit Agricole Mobility Services, a comprehensive service offering dedicated to mobility and the development of automotive financing in its universal subsidiaries in Europe and in Crédit Agricole Regional Banks and at LCL via Agilauto. CA Personal Finance & Mobility acts every day in the interest of its 17.2 million customers and society. As of December 31, 2023, CA Personal Finance & Mobility managed €113 billion in outstanding credit. More information: www.ca-personalfinancemobility.com

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How Canada and the U.S. can still tackle climate change in a second Trump era

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Andy Hira, Professor of Political Science, Simon Fraser University

    U.S. President Donald Trump has once again withdrawn the United States from the Paris agreement on climate change.

    There is a palpable sense of fear among environmentalists and those concerned about climate change following Trump’s re-election. His “drill baby drill” support for fossil fuels in the U.S. and frequent criticisms of renewable energy suggest that the world can expect to see a U.S. government that is far less interested in addressing climate change.

    In addition to leaving the Paris deal, Trump is likely to peel back the climate change elements of former president Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and disempower the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Trump’s nominee to head the EPA, Lee Zeldin, has promised to “pursue energy dominance.” Meanwhile, Chris Wright, Trump’s choice for energy secretary, is the CEO of Liberty Energy, a fracking company.

    While a majority of Americans recognize the dangers of climate change, how they prioritize action to address it tends to fall along partisan lines, with Republican voters seeing a trade-off with economic growth.

    Despite the challenges a second Trump administration is likely to bring, Canada can continue to address climate change by working with sub-national leadership in the U.S.

    Donald Trump signs an executive order withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement.

    U.S. states still making progress

    There are clear indications that Trump will move to dismantle key environmental policies. A dominant Trump adviser, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, has indicated his support for removing US$7,500 tax credits for the purchase of electric vehicles (EVs), apparently viewing it as a way to undermine Tesla competitors.

    But this move is opposed by other automakers that have invested billions into developing new supply chains.

    Furthermore, dismantling the IRA could undermine Trump’s broader economic agenda. Chinese companies have already leapfrogged their U.S. competitors when it comes to EVs. Biden’s tariffs on Chinese EVs and his promotion of battery supply chains are perfectly compatible with Trump’s own desire to bolster American manufacturing.

    However, despite the negative outlook on climate policy at the federal level, several U.S. states have made significant progress. Many American states already have significant and rapidly growing contributions from renewable energy, including Republican-led states such as Iowa and Texas, which generated respectively 60 and 20 per cent of its electricity from wind in 2024.

    In addition, 24 American states are projected to reduce net carbon emissions by 27 to 39 per cent by 2030, and 45 states and the District of Columbia have EV support policies. Meanwhile, California and 11 other states have EV mandates.

    Globally, solar and offshore wind costs have declined dramatically since 2010 by 89 per cent and 68 per cent, respectively. According to the 2024 levelized cost of energy estimates by financial advisory firm Lazard, onshore wind in the U.S. is fully competitive with natural gas. Utility-level solar is also within the cost range of natural gas.

    California’s decision to ban gas cars by 2035 has been supported by automakers, though the deadline remains hotly contested. California has offered the same EV tax credit if the federal one is eliminated.

    What Canada should do

    Canada must accelerate its own transition to a low-carbon economy by supporting renewable energy initiatives in engineering, construction, transportation and carbon sequestration.

    Renewable energy opportunities that align with U.S. interests exist, and can be pursued irrespective of Trump’s policies. For example, Canada has an opportunity, jointly with the U.S., to expand our mutual critical mineral industry.

    Electrification is set to proceed apace regardless of the political leanings of governments, and the transformation of transportation from fossil fuels to electricity and battery power will require vast amounts of lithium, a mineral Canada has in large quantities. It will also require large investments in cutting-edge battery technology, which is a key limitation to green electrification.

    Canada can play a crucial role in the U.S. critical strategic minerals program. Canada is a critical source of such minerals, and can play a significant role in developing North American EV and battery supply chains.

    Considering both the need for these minerals and how tightly integrated the auto industry is in North America, such integration of supply chains fits within Trump’s general goal of reducing reliance on China. Canada can leverage this role to try to ensure it captures key portions of the supply chain that will create good jobs, particularly as oil demand inevitably winds down.

    Canada could also be a key partner in expanding nuclear energy production. We understand the resistance many have to this suggestion, but it’s worth reconsidering given the intermittency of renewable energy such as wind and solar.



    Read more:
    With nuclear power on the rise, reducing conspiracies and increasing public education is key

    Canada is the second-largest producer of uranium in the world. It has experience developing safe nuclear reactors, and technological advances have improved reactive safety and performance in recent decades.

    As part of reconciliation efforts, Canada must engage Indigenous Peoples in renewable energy discussions and actions on their own lands. Canadian governments should partner with Indigenous communities to provide them opportunities to ensure that investments in green energy are made appropriately and the benefits are shared fairly.

    Lastly, Canada should assist low-income countries to develop appropriate technologies to advance their adoption of renewable energy — think something like a federal renewable energy outreach program.

    By taking these steps, Canada could make significant contributions to helping tackle climate change both in North America and around the world.

    Andy Hira is the Director of the Clean Energy Research Group based at Simon Fraser University. The group has received funding from the Willow Grove Foundation and SFU.

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

    – ref. How Canada and the U.S. can still tackle climate change in a second Trump era – https://theconversation.com/how-canada-and-the-u-s-can-still-tackle-climate-change-in-a-second-trump-era-246290

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why Trump’s tariffs can’t solve America’s fentanyl crisis

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Rodney Coates, Professor of Critical Race and Ethnic Studies, Miami University

    Americans consume more illicit drugs per capita than anyone else in the world; about 6% of the U.S. population uses them regularly.

    One such drug, fentanyl – a synthetic opioid that’s 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine – is the leading reason U.S. overdose deaths have surged in recent years. While the rate of fentanyl overdose deaths has dipped a bit recently, it’s still vastly higher than it was just five years ago.

    Ending the fentanyl crisis won’t be easy. The U.S. has an addiction problem that spans decades – long predating the rise of fentanyl – and countless attempts to regulate, legislate and incarcerate have done little to reduce drug consumption. Meanwhile, the opioid crisis alone costs Americans tens of billions of dollars each year.

    With past policies having failed to curb fentanyl deaths, President Donald Trump now looks set to turn to another tool to fight America’s drug problem: trade policy.

    During his presidential campaign, Trump pledged to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico if they don’t halt the flow of drugs across U.S. borders. Trump also promised to impose a new set of tariffs against China if it doesn’t do more to crack down on the production of chemicals used to make fentanyl. He reiterated his plan on his first day back in office, saying to reporters, “We’re thinking in terms of 25% on Mexico and Canada because they’re allowing … fentanyl to come in.”

    Speaking as a professor who studies social policy, I think both fentanyl and the proposed import taxes represent significant threats to the U.S. While the human toll of fentanyl is undeniable, the real question is whether tariffs will work – or worsen what’s already a crisis.

    Fentanyl: The ‘single greatest challenge’

    In 2021, more than 107,000 Americans died from overdoses – the most ever recorded – and nearly seven out of 10 deaths involved fentanyl or similar synthetic opioids. In 2022, fentanyl was killing an average of 200 people each day. And while fentanyl deaths declined slightly in 2023, nearly 75,000 Americans still died from synthetic opioids that year. In March of that year – the most recent for which full-year data on overdose deaths is available – the then-secretary of homeland security declared fentanyl to be “the single greatest challenge we face as a country.”

    But history shows that government efforts to curb drug use often have little success.

    The first real attempt to regulate drugs in the U.S. occurred in 1890, when, amid rampant drug abuse, Congress enacted a law taxing morphine and opium. In the years that followed, cocaine use skyrocketed, rising 700% between 1890 and 1902. Cocaine was so popular, it was even found in drinks such as Coca-Cola, from which it got its name.

    This was followed by a 1909 act banning the smoking of opium, and, in 1937, the “Marihuana Tax Act.” The most comprehensive package of laws was instituted with the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, which classified drugs into five categories based on their medical uses and potential for abuse or dependence. A year later, then-President Richard Nixon launched the “War on Drugs” and declared drug abuse as “public enemy No. 1.” And in 1986, Congress passed the Anti-Drug Abuse Act, directing US$1.7 billion for drug enforcement and control.

    President Richard Nixon declared drug abuse “Public enemy No. 1” at this 1971 press conference.

    These policies have generally failed to curb drug supply and use, while also causing significant harm to people and communities of color. For example, between 1980 and 1997, the number of incarcerations for nonviolent drug offenses went from 50,000 to 400,000. But these policies hardly put a dent in consumption. The share of high school seniors using drugs dipped only slightly over the same period, from 65% in 1980 to 58% in 1997.

    In short, past U.S. efforts to reduce illegal drug use haven’t been especially effective. Now, it looks like the U.S. is shifting toward using tariffs – but research suggests that those will not lead to better outcomes either, and could actually cause considerable harm.

    Why tariffs won’t work

    America’s experiments with tariffs can be traced back to the founding era with the passage of the Tariff Act of 1789. This long history has shown that tariffs, industrial subsidies and protectionist policies don’t do much to stimulate broad economic growth at home – but they raise prices for consumers and can even lead to global economic instability. History also shows that tariffs don’t work especially well as negotiating tools, failing to effect significant policy changes in target countries. Economists generally agree that the costs of tariffs outweigh the benefits.

    Over the course of Trump’s first term, the average effective tariff rate on Chinese imports went from 3% to 11%. But while imports from China fell slightly, the overall trade relationship didn’t change much: China remains the second-largest supplier of goods to the U.S.

    The tariffs did have some benefit – for Vietnam and other nearby countries with relatively low labor costs. Essentially, the tariffs on China caused production to shift, with global companies investing billions of dollars in competitor nations.

    This isn’t the first time Trump has used trade policy to pressure China on fentanyl – he did so in his first term. But while China made some policy changes in response, such as adding fentanyl to its controlled substances list in 2019, fentanyl deaths in the U.S. continued to rise. Currently, China still ranks as the No. 1 producer of fentanyl precursors, or chemicals used to produce illicit fentanyl. And there are others in the business: India, over that same period, has become a major producer of fentanyl.

    A question of supply and demand

    Drugs have been pervasive throughout U.S. history. And when you investigate this history and look at how other nations are dealing with this problem rather than criminalization, the Swiss and French have approached it as an addiction problem that could be treated. They realized that demand is what fuels the illicit market. And as any economist will tell you, supply will find a way if you don’t limit the demand. That’s why treatment works and bans don’t.

    The U.S. government’s ability to control the production of these drugs is limited at best. The problem is that new chemical products will continually be produced. Essentially, failure to restrict demand only places bandages on hemorrhaging wounds. What the U.S. needs is a more systematic approach to deal with the demand that’s fueling the drug crisis.

    Rodney Coates 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.

    – ref. Why Trump’s tariffs can’t solve America’s fentanyl crisis – https://theconversation.com/why-trumps-tariffs-cant-solve-americas-fentanyl-crisis-245978

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI China: Spring Festival gala held in Houston

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Themed “Dancing into the Year of the Snake,” the Greater Houston Spring Festival Gala was held Sunday night in the fourth largest U.S. city.

    “This gala conveys the auspiciousness and hope of the Year of the Snake to the world, promotes Chinese wisdom and the spirit of progress, and builds a bridge for cultural exchange between the East and the West,” the organizer said.

    The gala featured vibrant performances ranging from classical Chinese dances and traditional music to a Texas-style cowboy dance and popular songs.

    The night reached its peak when a singer and the audience joined together to sing “Go back home often,” with the crowd illuminating the hall with phone lights, celebrating the joy of the Chinese New Year.

    The event was organized by the Houston Chinese Civic Center.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese premier urges work to ensure safe passenger transport, smooth logistics during holiday

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

    Chinese premier urges work to ensure safe passenger transport, smooth logistics during holiday

    Chinese Premier Li Qiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, inspects Ministry of Transport work for the Spring Festival travel rush in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 27, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    BEIJING, Jan. 27 — Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Monday emphasized the need to safeguard safe, smooth travel for the public during the Spring Festival travel rush, as well as the efficient operations of transport logistics.

    Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when inspecting Ministry of Transport work for the holiday travel season.

    The Spring Festival travel season is a time when happy journeys are made for families to come together, and this year’s travel rush is expected to hit a record high number of such journeys, posing another test for the country’s transport system, Li said.

    He urged smooth, efficient passenger transport based on the scientific analysis of passenger flow patterns. Adjustments should be made to increase the number of train services, optimize schedules, and extend operating hours, allowing travelers to reach their destinations in a timely manner, Li said.

    China has recently experienced widespread rain, snow and cold weather, significantly impacting transport, he noted, calling for work to monitor weather changes, provide forecast and warning information through multiple channels, and stay prepared to respond to emergencies to minimize the impact of severe weather on public travel.

    After he was briefed on foreign trade and express logistics services at ports during the holiday travel rush, Li said that efficient port cargo transportation is a significant advantage for China’s foreign trade, and that it is important to maintain effective port logistics to ensure the timely delivery of overseas orders during the holiday.

    He highlighted the country’s smooth logistics network, urging express delivery firms to allocate labor and transport resources effectively to meet the basic delivery service needs of the public.

    Efforts should be made to ensure the supply of essential materials during the peak travel period, such as food, coal for electricity and heating, and holiday necessities, he said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi sends Chinese New Year card in return to friends in U.S. state of Iowa

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

    Xi sends Chinese New Year card in return to friends in U.S. state of Iowa

    BEIJING, Jan. 27 — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday sent a Chinese New Year card in return to friends in the U.S. state of Iowa, saying that China and the United States share extensive common interests and broad space for cooperation and can become partners and friends.

    Xi said in the reply card that the warm reception he received when he visited the beautiful state of Iowa 40 years ago is still fresh in his memory.

    China and the United States can achieve mutual success and common prosperity for the benefit of both countries and the world at large, Xi said.

    The Chinese president expressed his hope that the two peoples will pay more visits to each other and have more exchanges, jointly write new stories of friendship between the two peoples, and make new contributions to the development of China-U.S. relations.

    Earlier, 58 people from Iowa, including friends Luca Berrone, Gary Dvorchak and Sarah Lande, former U.S. Ambassador to China Terry Branstad and his wife, former President of the World Food Prize Foundation Kenneth Quinn, as well as representatives of teachers, students and parents from Iowa who participated in the initiative of inviting 50,000 young Americans to China for exchange and study for a five-year period, jointly sent a Chinese New Year card to President Xi.

    In the card, they recalled Xi’s first visit to Iowa in 1985 and extended New Year greetings to President Xi in the Year of the Snake.

    The representatives of teachers, students and parents thanked Xi for putting forward the “50,000 in Five Years” initiative, shared their feelings about visiting China, and expressed their expectations to visit China again.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump has rejected the Paris agreement again, but game theory shows how other countries can still lead by example

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Renaud Foucart, Senior Lecturer in Economics, Lancaster University Management School, Lancaster University

    petrmalinak/Shutterstock

    It came as a surprise to nobody that one of Donald Trump’s first acts on his return to the White House was to sign an executive order withdrawing the US from the Paris agreement on climate change.

    Almost 200 other countries will remain part of the deal designed to stem global warming. So how will they fare without the participation of one of the biggest polluters on the planet?

    The exit of the US encapsulates a tricky issue when it comes to international efforts to tackle climate change. Any effort to decrease the use of fossil fuels is individual, while any benefits are universal.

    And since 1997, the main approach to tackle climate change multilaterally has been through UN-backed summits known as “Cops” (Conference of the Parties) where countries gather and promise each other to cut their emissions.

    Richer countries, which polluted more in the past and created most of the accumulated CO2 in the atmosphere, have also committed to helping poorer countries develop economically while emitting less, to the tune of US$300 billion (£244 billion) a year by 2035.

    But while plenty of effort goes in to organising the largest possible coalition of countries, in the end, everything is based on good faith and promises. There is no mechanism by which countries which fail to live up to agreements are punished.

    So when national politics or budgetary constraints come into play, climate commitments can be left by the wayside. A project to tax pollution may be cancelled or campaigners may succeed in blocking plans.

    Yet there are benefits to be had from leading by example and cutting emissions without any guarantee that others will do the same. This is partly because humans have a tendency towards what’s known as “conditional cooperation”. People who fail to cooperate when they have to do it at the same time as others are much more likely to join in if they observe previous cooperation.

    For this reason, research I recently published with colleagues on game theory (the mathematical study of strategic interactions), suggests that the best thing for advanced economies to do is keep on cutting their own emissions.

    Because without efforts from rich countries to pursue a path towards mitigating global warming, there is no hope the others will follow. In that case, even a small wealthy country (like the UK) matters in demonstrating an unambiguous commitment to tackling climate change.

    Carbon cooperation

    Beyond encouraging further cooperation, a strong climate policy in the form of carbon taxes is also the most powerful way to punish those who do not take part in the global effort.

    Both the US (under Biden) and the EU have developed their own versions of a tool called a “carbon border adjustment mechanism” which means exporters from countries that do not tax emissions (or tax them less less heavily) need to pay the domestic carbon tax instead.

    Consider for instance a Chinese company exporting a container to the UK. If Chinese manufacturers have already paid a carbon tax worth £100 to the Chinese government for the product in the container, but the UK’s carbon tax would have been £200, the border tax is the difference between the two, £100.

    But if the Chinese government increases its domestic carbon tax to the UK level or above, the tax from the border adjustment mechanism drops to zero.

    This approach has influenced many countries to start their own carbon tax, because it is better to get tax receipts at home than to send them elsewhere. But again, it helps to lead by example. To influence others with border taxes, you need to implement your own system first.

    Cop out?

    Despite all of this apparent cooperation, and widespread concern about the impact of climate change, the latest Cop summit in Azerbaijan, held in November 2024, was considered by many to be a disappointment.

    But there is also some good news, which suggests that efforts are heading in the right direction. The latest data for example, shows that the EU is not far away from its 2030 target. Greenhouse gas emissions are already 37% below what they were in 1990 level. In the UK, the figure is 42%.

    In China, emissions might have apparently already peaked, earlier than expected. Even in the US, emissions are decreasing.

    Looking back at the scenarios that led to the first UN climate summit in Kyoto, not everything is bright. The world is unlikely to avoid global temperatures raising to more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

    So maybe we shouldn’t rely too much on future summits to make the next environmental breakthrough. The path forward could be more likely to come from technical solutions like carbon taxes and border adjustment mechanisms. And perhaps the best way to convince the rest of the world to cut their emissions is not to give them lectures and conferences – but to lead by example.

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

    – ref. Trump has rejected the Paris agreement again, but game theory shows how other countries can still lead by example – https://theconversation.com/trump-has-rejected-the-paris-agreement-again-but-game-theory-shows-how-other-countries-can-still-lead-by-example-246818

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s homegrown AI video generation platform launches new version

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    ShengShu Technology, a Beijing-based AI startup, has unveiled its updated video generation model, Vidu 2.0, which can create a single 4-second video clip at 512p resolution within just 10 seconds, Science and Technology Daily reported on Monday.

    The report states that the cost of generating such a video is 2.4 yuan (about 0.33 U.S. dollars) per minute.

    Video generation models have rapidly improved in terms of quality, but the speed at which a video is generated remains a significant obstacle. Previously, free users often had to wait for hours to generate a single piece of footage.

    Launched globally in July 2024, Vidu 1.0 reduced the time to generate a single video clip to under 30 seconds, and within 100 days, it gained over 10 million users. To date, Vidu has generated over 100 million video clips.

    Vidu’s greatest breakthrough lies in its ability to establish logical relationships among multiple user-specified objects within a scene, according to Tang Jiayu, the CEO of ShengShu Technology.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese FM calls on China, India to foster cooperation, not division

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China and India should strive for mutual understanding, support and collaboration, rather than fostering suspicion, alienation and consuming each other, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Monday.

    Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during a meeting with India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in Beijing.

    Noting that since the leaders of the two countries met in Kazan last year, the two sides have earnestly implemented the important consensus reached by the leaders, carried out active interactions at all levels, and accelerated the process of improving China-India relations, Wang said both sides should seize the opportunity to meet each other halfway and explore more substantive measures.

    The improvement and development of China-Indian relations are fully in line with the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples, and are conducive to safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of the Global South countries and contributing to the peace, stability, development and prosperity of Asia and the world, Wang added.

    Misri said that India and China have carried out a series of useful dialogues and communications in accordance with the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries in Kazan, properly managed and resolved differences, and promoted the resumption of pragmatic cooperation in various fields.

    India is willing to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with China, and will fully support China’s work as the presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Misri added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi congratulates Lukashenko on reelection as Belarusian president

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday sent a congratulatory message to Alexander Lukashenko on his reelection as the president of Belarus.

    Noting that he has maintained close contact with Lukashenko in recent years, Xi said they have jointly chartered the course for and led the development of China-Belarus relations, and pushed bilateral ties to an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership of all time high.

    Political mutual trust between the two sides has been continuously consolidated, Belt and Road cooperation has yielded fruitful results, and multilateral coordination has been effective, Xi said.

    Xi said he attaches great importance to the development of China-Belarus relations, and would like to work with Lukashenko to continue the traditional friendship between the two countries, and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, so as to push for a greater development of China-Belarus relations and bring more benefits to the two peoples.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/CHINA – The Lunar New Year of Chinese Catholic communities: Blessing for families, visits to hospitals, works of charity

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Beijing (Agenzia Fides) – The great “ChunYun army”, the endless crowd of people who travel across China to celebrate the Chinese New Year with their loved ones, marks one of the most significant moments of the year. Internal migrants who work in large cities return to their places of origin for the holiday, which this year falls on January 29. For Chinese Catholic communities, the Lunar New Year is an opportunity to develop pastoral initiatives focused on friendship and sharing with everyone. In the diocese of Shanghai, more than 60 parishes have received a blessing from Bishop Joseph Shen Bin along with a printed symbol of blessing that they can hang on the doors of their homes and which have been given to all the faithful by their priests during Mass. During the homily of the Mass celebrated on Sunday 26 January in the cathedral, Bishop Joseph Shen Bin invited everyone to “renew themselves internally in the sign of the Jubilee to welcome the New Year with a completely new perspective” and to “spread the joyful good news of the Gospel and peace”. As a concrete sign of charity, the offerings of the Mass will go to the communities of Tibet affected by the earthquake. The local Catholic communities see in the most important celebration of Chinese culture a privileged occasion also on a pastoral level. In Wuhu, Anhui province, priests and nuns dedicated themselves to caring for 12 elderly and sick people in the parish during these days with special care, also organizing visits to hospitals and nursing homes to bring them the sacraments of the Eucharist, Penance and Last Rites. At the same time, priests and nuns have been recipients of good wishes and gratitude. In the diocese of Xi’an, the Seraphic Youth Group shared a moment of coexistence with priests, nuns and Bishop Anthony Dang Mingyan in the cathedral. These pastoral initiatives, inspired by the Jubilee, and organized on the occasion of the Lunar New Year, were also carried out in the parishes of the provinces of Beijing, Wenzhou, Jiangxi and Zhejiang, and in the diocese of Sanyuan (province of Shaanxi), led by Bishop Joseph Han Yingjin. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides, 27/01/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: Xunlei to Acquire Hupu

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SHENZHEN, China, Jan. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Xunlei Limited (“Xunlei” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: XNET), a leading technology company providing distributed cloud services in China, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Shanghai Kuanghui Internet Technology Co., Ltd., which operates Hupu, for a total cash consideration of RMB500 million, subject to certain adjustments. Hupu is China’s leading sports media and data platform. The closing of the transaction is subject to certain conditions and is currently expected to occur in the first half of 2025.

    “Acquiring Hupu is expected to create a powerful synergy with Xunlei,” said Mr. Jinbo Li, Chairman and CEO of Xunlei. “This strategic move will leverage Xunlei’s extensive user base and technological expertise in the internet content transmission sector, combined with Hupu’s high-quality sports content and vibrant community, to foster content downloads, community interaction, and sports consumption in a niche market with high user loyalty. Additionally, the acquisition will strengthen Xunlei’s community operations by enriching its content ecosystem with Hupu’s premium sports content and active user base, while enhancing the user experience through Xunlei’s technological and brand advantages.”

    About Xunlei

    Founded in 2003, Xunlei Limited (Nasdaq: XNET) is a leading technology company providing distributed cloud services in China. Xunlei provides a wide range of products and services across cloud acceleration, shared cloud computing and digital entertainment to deliver an efficient, smart and safe internet experience.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This press release contains statements of a forward-looking nature. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these forward-looking statements by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates” and similar statements. Among other things, the management’s quotes in this press release, as well as the Company’s strategic, operational and acquisition plans, contain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about the Company and the industry. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to: the Company’s ability to continue to innovate and provide attractive products and services to retain and grow its user base; the Company’s ability to keep up with technological developments and users’ changing demands in the internet industry; the Company’s ability to convert its users into subscribers of its premium services; the Company’s ability to deal with existing and potential copyright infringement claims and other related claims; the Company’s ability to react to the governmental actions for its scrutiny of internet content in China and the Company’s ability to compete effectively. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that its expectations will turn out to be correct, and investors are cautioned that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results. Further information regarding risks and uncertainties faced by the Company is included in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of the press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law.

    Investor Relations
    Xunlei Limited
    Email: ir@xunlei.com 
    Tel: +86 755 6111 1571
    Website: http://ir.xunlei.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Traffic measures to be implemented

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    To facilitate festive events occurring on the first two days of the Lunar New Year, the Government will roll out special traffic and transport arrangements at various locations on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon.

    In connection with the International Chinese New Year Night Parade due to be held in Tsim Sha Tsui at 8pm on January 29, the first day of the Lunar New Year, special traffic arrangements will be implemented in phases starting from 3.30pm that day. They will remain in place until the crowd has dispersed and the roads are safe for re-opening.

    During this period, the Star Ferry Bus Terminus and the China Ferry Terminal Bus Terminus will not be operational. On-street parking will be suspended, and pick-up/drop-off areas and carparks will be closed.

    With regard to the Lunar New Year fireworks display, which will be staged at 8pm on January 30, Police will enforce crowd safety management measures and special traffic arrangements on both sides of Victoria Harbour starting from 5pm.

    In addition, the Marine Department will implement marine traffic control measures and strengthen inspections of spectator vessels to ensure that safety requirements are met.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Immigration Department Review 2024 (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Director of Immigration, Mr Kwok Joon-fung, held a press conference today (January 27) to review the work of the Immigration Department (ImmD) over the past year and look ahead to the future. The following is a summary of the department’s major activities in 2024 and its outlook:      Staying committed to its mission and safeguarding national security      The Safeguarding National Security Ordinance took effect upon gazettal in 2024. Together with the Hong Kong National Security Law, a comprehensive legal system and enforcement mechanism for safeguarding national security have been established in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). With a crucial role to play in safeguarding national security, the department has been guarding the country’s southern gateway rigorously with patriotism, and acts in accordance with all applicable laws and prevailing immigration policies to protect Hong Kong’s national sovereignty, security and development interests. Staying principled and innovative, the Government actively seeks reforms so that Hong Kong can advance from stability to prosperity and better integrate into the national development. It also strives to consolidate and enhance Hong Kong’s status as an international financial, shipping and trade centre. The ImmD continues to render full support to the HKSAR Government in its policy directions and measures, with a view to contributing to the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong.      Enhancing efficiency and facilitating connections and integration (A) Passenger traffic at control points      In 2024, a total of around 298 million passengers passed through Hong Kong’s control points, representing an increase of about 41 per cent over 2023 and a return to the 300 million level in 2019. The total number of visitor arrivals was around 44.5 million, representing an increase of about 31 per cent as compared with that of 2023, of which Mainland visitor arrivals were around 34.04 million, representing an increase of about 27 per cent when compared with that of 2023. Meanwhile, the number of arrivals of other visitors in 2024 was around 10.46 million, representing an increase of about 44 per cent over 2023. Among the visitor arrivals in 2024, around 9.86 million visitors travelled through the Airport Control Point, while around 32.81 million visitors and around 1.84 million visitors passed through land control points and sea control points respectively. (B) Enabling people movement (1) Enhancing handling capacity of control points      The ImmD has been taking various measures, including flexible deployment of manpower, optimisation of workflow and effective use of information technology, etc, to continuously enhance the handling capacity and efficiency of control points. Among them, the Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point has seen a continuous increase in users since its passenger clearance services commenced operation in February 2023. To further enhance the clearance capacity, the ImmD set up 10 additional mobile counters in the arrival hall of the Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point and completed the enhancement works in early June 2024 to replace some of the conventional counters with e-Channels, thereby increasing the number of e-Channels in the arrival hall from the existing 14 to 18. Furthermore, to enhance the handling capacity and efficiency of the Express Rail Link West Kowloon Control Point, in addition to the existing 22 e-Channels, 19 extra e-Channels were installed in phases in the arrival hall, which were then put into service progressively starting from June 26, 2024. (2) Extension of e-Channel service            The ImmD launched the Contactless e-Channel service in 2021 to allow registered Hong Kong residents to undergo self-service immigration clearance using an encrypted QR code generated by the “Contactless e-Channel” mobile application and facial recognition technology. As at the end of 2024, around 5 million Hong Kong residents had registered for the service and the number of passengers who used the service reached around 150 million, accounting for nearly 75 per cent of the daily number of Hong Kong residents using the e-Channels. On July 19, 2024, the ImmD launched the Mutual Use of QR Code between HKSAR and Macao SAR Clearance Service in collaboration with the relevant authorities of Macao. Eligible Hong Kong residents who have registered for using the Macao Automated Passenger Clearance Service may use the encrypted QR code generated by the “Contactless e-Channel” mobile application for self-service immigration clearance in Macao. Similarily, eligible Macao permanent residents may also use the encrypted QR code generated by the “Macao One Account” mobile application for self-service immigration clearance through the e-Channels in Hong Kong. As at the end of 2024, the numbers of Hong Kong residents and Macao residents who used the service were around 400 000 and 210 000 respectively. (3) Cancelling the requirement for visitors to furnish arrival or departure cards      To further streamline immigration procedures, the ImmD has cancelled the requirement for visitors to furnish an arrival or departure card with effect from October 16, 2024. All passengers are no longer required to complete and furnish an arrival or departure card, thereby facilitating a faster and more convenient immigration clearance process.      Attracting talent by building Hong Kong into an international hub for talent      In support of the Government’s initiatives to attract and retain talent, as well as building Hong Kong into an international hub for talent, the ImmD continued to implement the various enhanced talent admission schemes and deployed additional manpower and streamlined the system to speed up the processing of relevant applications. Meanwhile, technology was also utilised to enhance electronic services, making the submission of visa applications more convenient and efficient. (For details of the numbers of applications for visas/entry permits/extensions of stay received and approved under various admission schemes/policies, please refer to the Annex.) (A) Enhancing talent admission schemes (1) Enhancing the assessment criteria and arrangements for the General Points Test under the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme      With effect from November 1, 2024, the General Points Test (GPT) under the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS) has been enhanced by adopting clearer and more objective scoring criteria, as well as streamlining the application and selection process. The enhanced GPT replaced the original item-by-item scoring system with an assessment questionnaire comprising 12 assessment criteria across six major aspects, namely age, academic qualifications, language proficiency, work experience, income and business ownership. Applicants may submit applications if they meet a minimum of six assessment criteria. The ImmD will pass the eligible applications to an assessment panel chaired by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare. The assessment panel will then provide advice to the Director of Immigration according to the selection results. There is no annual quota under the enhanced GPT. (2) Expanding the list of eligible universities under the Top Talent Pass Scheme and extending the validity period of the first visa for Category A applications      To further expand the network for attracting talent, starting from November 1, 2024, 13 top Mainland and overseas universities/institutions have been added to the list of eligible universities under the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS). The aggregate list currently covers a total of 199 eligible institutions after the annual update. In addition, with effect from October 16, 2024, the validity period of the first visa of applicants approved under Category A of the TTPS has also been extended from two years to three years to facilitate their advance planning for relocation to Hong Kong with their families. The new measure also applies to Category A applicants whose applications were approved before the aforementioned date. (3) Extending the immigration arrangements for graduates from the Greater Bay Area campuses of Hong Kong universities      In late 2022, the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates was expanded to include graduates from the Greater Bay Area (GBA) campuses of Hong Kong universities on a pilot basis for two years. The HKSAR Government announced in October 2024 that the arrangements would be extended for two years to the end of 2026. (B) Temporarily exempting full-time non-local undergraduate students from restrictions on taking up part-time jobs      Starting from November 1, 2024, full-time non-local undergraduate students have been temporarily exempted from the restrictions on taking up part-time jobs to enhance their personal experience of working in Hong Kong, thereby increasing their incentive to stay in Hong Kong for development after graduation. Eligible full-time non-local undergraduate students are allowed to take up part-time employment within the duration of their studies, with no restrictions on the number of working hours and location. (C) Implementation of New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme      The New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme was launched on March 1, 2024, with the aim to further enrich the talent pool and attract more new capital to Hong Kong. An eligible applicant must invest a minimum of HK$30 million in the permissible investment assets. Invest Hong Kong is responsible for assessing whether the applications fulfil the financial requirements, and the ImmD is responsible for assessing the applications for visa and entry permits and extensions of stay, etc. (D) Relaxation of visa arrangements for nationals of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam      To foster closer ties with countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), following the relaxation of criteria for Vietnamese nationals applying for multiple-entry visas for travel or business in 2023, the relaxation measure has been extended to include nationals of Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar starting from October 16, 2024. Meanwhile, the validity period of multiple-entry visas for nationals of these four ASEAN countries has also been extended from two years to three years. The ImmD has put in place a fast-track arrangement for group visitors from ASEAN countries who submit their visa applications via local travel agents, so that the processing time of the visa applications can be significantly shortened.      Be people-oriented and improve their livelihood in pursuit of happiness (A) Commissioning of the new Immigration Headquarters      Located at the Tseung Kwan O town centre, the new Immigration Headquarters officially commenced operation on June 11, 2024, marking a new milestone in the development of the department. Not only is the new headquarters equipped with better facilities and infrastructure, it also houses the Tseung Kwan O Marriage Registry and Tseung Kwan O Births Registry, delivering quality public services to citizens. The marriage hall of the Tseung Kwan O Marriage Registry features an innovative design with special wall panels, a lighting system that can be set to different colours, as well as various photo-taking spots. Since its opening on June 26, the hall has been popular among the public. As at the end of 2024, more than 1 300 weddings were held there. (B) New submission and collection kiosks for personal documentation      The Registration of Persons (Amendment) Regulation 2024 came into effect on December 13, 2024. On the same day, the ImmD introduced self-application services for identity cards (ICs), expanding the service scope of the Personal Documentation Submission Kiosks to cover IC applications, in addition to HKSAR passport applications. The new services cover three types of replacement applications of IC holders who are aged 18 or above holding a locally issued smart IC, i.e. (i) replacement for an adult IC for persons reaching the age of 18; (ii) replacement for a permanent IC for persons having their eligibility for a permanent IC verified; and (iii) replacement for a new smart identity card for persons holding a valid old form of smart identity IC. Eligible applicants may apply for an IC replacement in a self-service manner and submit their HKSAR passport applications in one go. For collection of documents, members of the public may also collect their ICs and HKSAR passports in a self-service manner through the Personal Documentation Collection Kiosks. A total of 54 new personal documentation kiosks are provided in the new headquarters. The service hours of some of the kiosks have been further extended until 10pm to enable eligible applicants’ access to the services beyond office hours. In addition, starting from December 13, 2024, the processing time for new smart ICs has been shortened from the current seven working days to five working days. Members of the public may collect their new ICs on the next working day upon completion of application processing by the ImmD. (C) Conclusion of Territory-wide Identity Card Replacement Exercise      Following the conclusion of the Territory-wide Identity Card Replacement Exercise on March 3, 2023, the Smart Identity Card Replacement Centres ceased operation. Residents who have yet to replace their smart identity cards can visit the four designated Registration of Persons (ROP) Offices during the extended service hours or the ROP – Kwun Tong (Temporary) Office for identity card replacement. As at the end of 2024, a total of some 7.32 million identity card holders had replaced their smart identity cards, representing a replacement rate of about 91 per cent. The Secretary for Security has made the Registration of Persons (Invalidation of Identity Cards) Order 2024 under section 7C of the Registration of Persons Ordinance (Cap. 177), declaring that the old form of smart identity cards issued before November 26, 2018, will be invalidated in two phases in 2025. Moreover, the On-site Identity Card Replacement Service (On-site Service), which had been temporarily suspended for over two years due to the pandemic, resumed in November 2022 to provide on-site identity card replacement service to eligible residents of residential care homes (RCHs). As at the end of 2024, the outreach teams had visited around 1 100 RCHs to complete the replacement procedures for over 45 200 residents. It is anticipated that the On-site Service will conclude in the first quarter of 2025. (D) Granting of visa-free access for HKSAR passport holders      In 2024, the ImmD issued a total of more than 900 000 HKSAR passports. Since July 2024, the period of visa-free entry for HKSAR passport holders to Thailand has been extended from up to 30 days to 60 days. As at the end of 2024, 171 countries or territories had granted visa-free access or visa-on-arrival for HKSAR passport holders. The ImmD will continue to lobby more countries or territories to grant visa-free access or visa-on-arrival for HKSAR passport holders to provide travel convenience. (E) Services and support for Hong Kong residents in distress outside Hong Kong (1) Assistance to Hong Kong residents in distress outside Hong Kong      The ImmD’s Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit (AHU) has been making every effort to provide practical assistance to Hong Kong residents in distress outside Hong Kong. The AHU maintains close ties with the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR (OCMFA), Chinese diplomatic and consular missions overseas and other relevant HKSAR government departments to provide all practicable help and support to assistance seekers. To step up its services and support for Hong Kong residents in distress outside Hong Kong, the ImmD introduced the 1868 WeChat assistance hotline and 1868 Chatbot on March 18, 2024. Along with the existing options, Hong Kong residents may contact the AHU through a total of six different channels for assistance. In 2024, the AHU handled 3 302 requests for assistance in total, most of which involved loss of travel documents, hospitalisation, casualties, etc outside Hong Kong. Among the requests received, there were cases of Hong Kong residents suspected of having been lured to Southeast Asian countries and detained to engage in illegal work. The ImmD has provided appropriate advice and practicable assistance to the persons concerned or their families according to their wishes. In the light of the situation in Lebanon and Israel, the ImmD has also maintained close contact with the OCMFA and relevant Chinese Embassies to follow up as appropriate. With the assistance of the Embassy, three Hong Kong residents were safely evacuated from Lebanon by vessel and flight under the national arrangements. (2) Publicity on consular protection and outbound travel safety     In June 2024, the ImmD and the OCMFA co-organised the Consular Protection Month to widely disseminate information on consular protection and outbound travel safety through a series of activities, including holding the launching ceremony of the Consular Protection Month at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), organising roving exhibitions on consular protection across the territory, setting up booths at the International Travel Expo and conducting joint seminars with the OCMFA. Meanwhile, the “Consular Protection and Outbound Travel Safety” online exhibition was launched to enable members of the public to learn more about consular protection and outbound travel safety through various activities. (F) Mainland Travel Permits for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (Non-Chinese Citizens)      The Exit and Entry Administration of the People’s Republic of China started to issue Mainland Travel Permits for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (Non-Chinese Citizens) (Permits) from July 10, 2024, onwards. To apply for the Permit, applicants are required to apply for a Notice of Application for Access to Information (Notice) from the ImmD. The Notice will normally be made available within 10 days upon receipt of the request. As at the end of 2024, a total of about 87 000 applications in relation to the Notice had been received, among which 99 per cent had been processed.      Stringent law enforcement and securing social stability (A) Law enforcement           The ImmD is dedicated to combating immigration-related crimes. Its Cybercrime and Forensics Investigation Group has been actively conducting targeted cyber patrols and taking enforcement actions against those who organise, arrange or incite the public to commit serious crimes such as employing illegal workers through social media or instant messaging software, with a view to tackling illegal employment and protecting the job opportunities of local workers. (1) Combating illegal employment      In 2024, the ImmD conducted a total of 17 906 operations against illegal employment and arrested 4 172 illegal workers and 513 local employers altogether. In particular, a total of 444 non-ethnic Chinese illegal workers and 146 local employers who employed them were arrested during the enforcement operations against non-ethnic Chinese illegal workers. Employing illegal workers is a serious offence. A dishwashing service company licensee was convicted for employing illegal workers and sentenced to 19 months’ imprisonment in February 2024. In July and August 2024, under the co-ordination of the Exit and Entry Administration of the People’s Republic of China, the ImmD mounted a cross-boundary joint operation with the Exit and Entry Administration Offices of the public security authorities of Guangxi and Guangdong and the Shenzhen Frontier Inspection Station, cracking down on a cross-boundary forgery syndicate that specialised in soliciting Mainlanders to take up illegal employment in Hong Kong, resulting in the arrest of a total of 201 persons and the seizure of a large quantity of forgery equipment and forged documents. In regards to the Hong Kong side, the ImmD mounted an operation codenamed “Vanguard” and arrested a total of 97 persons, including a syndicate mastermind and serveral core members, as well as a number of suspected illegal workers and employers suspected of employing them. (2) Strengthening counter-terrorism preparedness, combating illegal transnational migration and document fraud      Officers of the ImmD intercepted suspicious persons at immigration control points in light of terrorist threat assessments and actual circumstances, and kept visitors in suspected association with terrorist activities under surveillance to prevent such persons from attempting to enter Hong Kong. In 2024, the ImmD conducted a total of 13 664 related inspection operations at various immigration control points, and intercepted 32 551 passengers in total for enquiries. To enhance its preparedness and response capability for emergencies and terrorist attacks, the ImmD participated in a large-scale interdepartmental counter-terrorism exercise codenamed “Wisdomlight” at the Kai Tak Sports Park in December 2024. During the exercise, the ImmD showcased its recently commissioned mobile identification tactical unit, while the Emergency Response Team of the Castle Peak Bay Immigration Centre (CIC) demonstrated how to quell a disturbance. Moreover, the ImmD has been working with different law enforcement agencies to combat illegal transnational migration, with the focus on investigation into document fraud, in order to prevent anyone from entering Hong Kong or travelling to other countries or territories via Hong Kong with forged travel documents. The ImmD’s Anti-Illegal Migration Agency conducted a total of 30 438 operations against forgery activities, including joint operations with overseas and local law enforcement agencies against illegal transnational migration. A total of 23 693 passengers were intercepted for enquiries. (B) Handling non-refoulement claims (1) Combating illegal entry of non-ethnic Chinese      The ImmD has commenced dedicated operations with Mainland and local law enforcement agencies since 2016 in order to take sustained enforcement action against illegal immigration activities of non-ethnic Chinese. While a sharp increase in the number of non-ethnic Chinese illegal immigrants intercepted in the second half of 2023 was once noted, the situation has improved significantly following the strengthened enforcement actions through concerted efforts of enforcement agencies. The number of interceptions plummeted by 84 per cent from the peak of 364 in October 2023 to a monthly average of 57 in 2024. The ImmD will continue to step up intelligence exchanges with enforcement agencies on the Mainland and in Macao to further combat illegal immigration precisely. (2) Advance Passenger Information System      To meet the aviation security requirements of the Convention on International Civil Aviation and to align Hong Kong with other aviation hubs worldwide, as well as to enable the ImmD to further enhance its clearance and enforcement capabilities to prevent undesirables, including potential non-refoulement claimants, from boarding flights heading to Hong Kong, the ImmD implemented the Advance Passenger Information (API) System on September 3, 2024, requiring airlines to transmit advance information to the ImmD about flights and passengers heading to Hong Kong through the API System when checking in travellers, and act upon the direction given through the system to allow or not allow specific travellers to board the aircraft heading to Hong Kong. To allow sufficient time for over 100 airlines to connect to the API System and to ensure that the system will run in a smooth and orderly manner, the rollout will be carried out in phases. A transitional period of around 12 months will also be provided. The offences and defences, and the miscellaneous provisions relating to the API System under Cap. 115Q, Laws of Hong Kong will come into effect after the transitional period, namely starting from September 1, 2025. (3) Stepping up the screening process      The ImmD continued to speed up the screening of non-refoulement claims with flexible staff deployment and optimised workflow. In 2024, the ImmD determined over 2 700 non-refoulement claims. As at the end of last year, there were about 850 claims pending screening by the ImmD. Under the unified screening mechanism, over 95 per cent of the claimants rejected by the ImmD lodged appeals against the decisions. As at the end of 2024, there were about 750 claimants who had lodged appeals pending decision by the Torture Claims Appeal Board/Non-refoulement Claims Petition Office. (4) Better management of detainees      To enhance security and management efficiency, the CIC is pressing ahead with a number of enhancement projects, including overhauling the CCTV surveillance system; launching an RFID (radio frequency Identification) Equipment Management System; and installing a Contactless Vital Sign Monitoring System to remotely monitor the vital signs of detainees. The CIC has also deployed small unmanned aircraft to carry out patrol duties from time to time to eliminate potential security threats. In addition to the CIC, the HKSAR Government included the Tai Tam Gap Correctional Institution and the Nei Kwu Correctional Institution (NKCI) as places of detention of the ImmD in 2021 and 2023 respectively, thereby increasing the number of detention places for detaining non-refoulement claimants to three. When the in-situ expansion of the NKCI is completed in 2025, the overall detention capacity of the three detention places will increase to 940. (5) Enhancing efficiency of removing unsubstantiated claimants      The ImmD has been committed to promptly removing unsubstantiated non-refoulement claimants from Hong Kong. In 2024, the ImmD removed 2 219 unsubstantiated claimants from Hong Kong, representing a rise of 24 per cent when compared with that in 2023. Under the updated removal policy effective from December 7, 2022, the ImmD may generally proceed with the removal of an unsubstantiated claimant whose judicial review case has been dismissed by the Court of First Instance of the High Court, thereby enhancing the efficiency of and efforts in removing unsubstantiated claimants. Since the implementation of the policy till the end of 2024, the ImmD removed a total of 4 070 unsubstantiated claimants from Hong Kong, including 314 claimants who were removed under the updated removal policy.      Nurturing young people and strengthening patriotic teams (A) Hong Kong will prosper when its young people thrive (1) Immigration Department Youth Leaders Corps      The ImmD formed the Immigration Department Youth Leaders Corps (IDYL) to provide systematic and regular disciplinary and leadership training for members by sending dedicated training officers to secondary schools with the aim of nurturing them to become pillars of society who love the country and Hong Kong. There is also a post-secondary student team, IDYL Plus, members of which have already been admitted to post-secondary institutes. They will be the experienced leaders to pass the values of the IDYL and their personal experiences to younger members. To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the IDYL organised a Shanghai summer exchange tour in July for 75 members to learn about the history of the motherland and have an in-depth exchange of ideas with local young people. As at the end of 2024, a total of over 950 students participated in the IDYL. (2) Immigration Department Youth Ambassador Programme      The ImmD launched the Immigration Department Youth Ambassador Programme in November 2023 and used the Immigration Divisions of the Mainland Offices of the HKSAR Government (Mainland Offices) as bases to recruit young people from Hong Kong who are studying and living in various provinces on the Mainland as Youth Ambassadors. Since the launch of the Programme, the ImmD has appointed 32 Youth Ambassadors in Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Wuhan. The appointed Youth Ambassadors will have diverse learning opportunities provided by the ImmD during the one-year term and collaborate with the Mainland Offices in disseminating the latest information and in briefing the public on the business scope of the department. The ImmD expects that the Programme will broaden the Youth Ambassadors’ horizons and lay solid groundwork for their different future positions in society. (B) Staff training and continuous development (1) Recruitment of service members      The ImmD launched a new round of in-service appointments and open recruitment of Immigration Officers in May 2024, while the open recruitment of Immigration Assistants continued to be all year round. During the recruitment exercises in 2024, the department recruited about 100 Immigration Officers and 210 Immigration Assistants. (2) National studies     In 2024, a total of 366 members of the Immigration Service were arranged to attend training courses in various Mainland institutes, including the National Academy of Governance, the First Standing Force of the Exit and Entry Administration of the People’s Republic of China, the China Foreign Affairs University, and the China People’s Police University. Moreover, in order to reinforce the concept of national security among newly recruited Immigration Officers, deepen their understanding of the history and development of the motherland as well as enhance their knowledge of the country’s immigration regime, with the staunch support of the Ministry of Public Security and the China People’s Police University, the ImmD has arranged 200 Immigration Officer trainees to participate in the National Affairs and Immigration Control Training Course for Immigration Officer Trainees at the China People’s Police University (Guangzhou) since October 2023. The ImmD will actively co-ordinate with relevant Mainland authorities so that newly recruited Immigration Assistants can also receive training in the Mainland.      Vision for 2025      Utilising technologies to enhance service standards (A) New milestone of e-Channel service      Since the launch of the first e-Channel at the Lo Wu Control Point in December 2004, the total number of users of e-Channels has exceeded 2 billion. Over the past two decades, the ImmD has been striving for innovation in enhancing the clearance efficiency of e-Channels and expanding the service target group in order to provide immigration services of the highest quality to members of the public and visitors. To further enhance service quality, the ImmD has set two key directions for the future development of e-Channels, namely “simplicity” and “efficiency”. While ensuring information security, the ImmD will introduce more innovative technologies for e-Channel users to perform immigration clearance in a more convenient and faster manner. (1) Extension of applicable age of e-Channel service      At present, Hong Kong permanent residents aged 11 or above holding a smart identity card can use e-Channels for self-service immigration clearance. To enhance clearance efficiency, the ImmD will adjust the applicable age of the e-Channel service for Hong Kong permanent residents from the first quarter of 2025 onwards so that children aged 7 or above holding a valid HKSAR passport and a Hong Kong permanent identity card can undergo self-service immigration clearance with a smart identity card using facial recognition technology at e-Channels. The implementation date will be announced later. (2) Introduction of new e-Channel      The ImmD plans to introduce the new e-Channel at the Arrival Hall of HKIA in the third quarter of 2025, which will enable eligible Hong Kong residents to experience hassle-free self-service immigration clearance through verification of identity by facial recognition technology at the new e-Channel upon arrival without prior enrolment or presenting travel documents or QR codes. (3) Innovative proposal for the application of technologies in handling immigration clearance for private cars      The ImmD and the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding in April 2024 to explore an innovative proposal for the application of technologies in four areas, i.e. Innovative Immigration Control Operation, Biometric Identification and Authentication, Artificial Intelligence Assisted Immigration Application and Collaborative Robotics Technology. Currently, the ImmD is making substantial efforts in a collaborative project relating to the Innovative Immigration Control Operation with ASTRI, actively researching whether a technology solution underpinned by facial recognition technology can be used to handle immigration clearance of private car passengers, with a view to further enhancing passenger clearance experience. (B) Upgrading infrastructure of boundary control points (1) Redevelopment of Huanggang Port      To tie in with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development blueprint and enable smooth and efficient people and cargo flows within the area, the HKSAR Government has been forging ahead with a series of measures to further enhance the capacity of control points and the clearance efficiency, with the redevelopment of the Huanggang Port as one of the key projects. The new Huanggang Port will implement the “co-location arrangement” and adopt a new clearance mode of “collaborative inspection and joint clearance”, making it the first boundary control point between Guangdong Province and the HKSAR adopting such a clearance mode. Currently, Hong Kong and Shenzhen are taking forward the construction works of the new Huanggang Port building and specific immigration clearance arrangements. The target is to strive for basic completion of the new Huanggang Port building by the end of 2025. The ImmD will continue to maintain close liaison with the authorities of both Hong Kong and the Mainland, and proactively implement all relevant preparatory work. (2) Airport Terminal 2      With the full commissioning of the Three-Runway System (3RS) of HKIA in 2024, the capacity of HKIA will be substantially enhanced. Terminal 2 (T2) under the 3RS project is undergoing expansion. Upon completion, it will provide full-fledged terminal services with additional immigration facilities, which include a total of 137 immigration clearance counters and 60 e-Channels. T2 will be opened in phases based on passenger traffic demand. The ImmD will maintain close ties with the Airport Authority Hong Kong and other relevant HKSAR government departments to ensure the smooth commissioning and running of T2. (C) Providing immigration facilitation to the 15th National Games      The ImmD fully supports the 15th National Games, and the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games to be held in 2025, whereby special immigration lanes will be provided in the closed areas of designated control points on Hong Kong side to provide faster and more convenient clearance services for athletes from the Mainland and Macao and their accompanying staff. (D) Commencement of study of Fourth Information Systems Strategy (ISS-4)      To further work in tandem with the HKSAR Government’s smart city initiative and proactively seize the opportunities of innovative technology and artificial intelligence technology, the ImmD has appointed a consultant in August 2024 to conduct a new round of reviews on information systems and formulate the ISS-4 as the department’s long-term information technology development blueprint. The research for the ISS-4 is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2025. (E) Enhancing various measures for attracting talent      The ImmD will continue to fully support the HKSAR Government’s measures for attracting and retaining talent. A new channel will be introduced under the General Employment Policy and the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals in 2025 to allow young and experienced non-degree talent with relevant professional and technical qualifications to apply for entry into Hong Kong to join the skilled trades facing acute manpower shortage. There will be a quota under such an arrangement. Moreover, a new mechanism will be introduced under the QMAS in 2025 to proactively invite top-notch and leading talent to come to Hong Kong for development, promoting Hong Kong as the focal point of international high-calibre talent.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: Embrace Change Acquisition Corp. Announces Entering into a Definitive Merger Agreement with Tianji

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN DIEGO, Jan. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Embrace Change Acquisition Corp. (“Embrace Change”) (NASDAQ: EMCG, EMCGU, EMCGR), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company, and Tianji Tire Global (Cayman) Limited (“Tianji,” or the “Company”), a leading tire manufacturer with operations mainly conducted by its subsidiaries based in mainland China, today announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement (the “Merger Agreement”) that will result in Tianji becoming a publicly listed company upon the closing of the transaction contemplated there in (the “Proposed Transaction”) on January 26, 2025. Upon closing, the combined company will be renamed “Tianji Tire Global Group (Cayman) Limited” (the “Combined Company”) and expects to list its Class A ordinary shares on Nasdaq.

    Tianji is a leading tire manufacturer with operations mainly conducted by its subsidiaries based in mainland China, specializing in the design, research and development, production and sales of tires, with a primary focus on all-steel, tubeless radial tires for medium- and short-distance transportation.

    Key Transaction Terms

    As provided in the Merger Agreement, the merger consideration is $450 million, payable by newly-issued securities of the Combined Company valued at $10.00 per share.

    Cash proceeds raised will consist of Embrace Change’s approximately $26 million in trust (assuming no redemptions by Embrace Change’s existing public shareholders) which is anticipated to support the Company’s growth capital needs and to be used for general working capital purposes. After the closing, Tianji shareholders are expected to retain a majority of the outstanding shares of the Combined Company and Tianji will designate a majority of proposed directors for the Combined Company’s board.

    The Tianji management team, led by its CEO Hailong Cheng, will continue to run the Combined Company after the closing of the Proposed Transaction.

    The boards of directors of Tianji, Embrace Change and Embrace Change’s two merger subsidiaries have unanimously approved the Proposed Transaction, which is expected to be completed in mid–2025, subject to, among other things, approval by Embrace Change’ and Tianji’ shareholders, and satisfaction (or waiver, as applicable) of the conditions provided in the Merger Agreement, including regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions, including a registration statement in connection with the Proposed Transaction being declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

    Additional information about the Proposed Transaction, including a copy of the Merger Agreement, will be provided in a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed by Embrace Change with the SEC and available at www.sec.gov. Additional information about the Proposed Transaction will be described in the Registration Statement, which Embrace Change and/or its subsidiary will file with the SEC.

    Advisors

    Loeb & Loeb LLP, Ogier (Cayman) LLP and Beijing Dacheng Law Offices, LLP are serving as legal advisor to Embrace Change. Han Kun Law Offices LLP and Harney Westwood & Riegels are serving as legal advisor to Tianji.

    About Tianji

    Tianji is a leading tire manufacturer with operations mainly conducted by its subsidiaries based in mainland China, specializing in the design, research and development, production and sales of tires, with a primary focus on all-steel, tubeless radial tires for medium- and short-distance transportation. The Company’s collection of tires is curated under six renowned brands, namely the premium brand SEMES, the mid- to high-end brand Tianxin, the mass-market brands Lunaite, Aoben and GFT Rider, as well as the brand Kuangshan Jiuhao designed specifically for mining transportation. Each of these brands stands out in quality and technical performance characteristics with distinctive features and precise identities.

    Founded in 2020, Tianji has successfully established an extensive presence in China, and is continuing to expand its footprint nationwide to reach more potential customers.

    About Embrace Change Acquisition Corp.

    Embrace Change Acquisition Corp. is a blank check company, also commonly referred to as a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities.

    Additional Information and Where to Find It

    In connection with the Proposed Transaction, Embrace Change and/or its subsidiary will file with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form F-4 (as amended, the “Registration Statement”), which will include a proxy statement/prospectus. After the Registration Statement is declared effective, Embrace Change will send the proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant documents to its shareholders. This press release is not a substitute for the proxy statement/prospectus. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED OR WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THESE DOCUMENTS, CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT TIANJI, EMBRACE CHANGE, THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND RELATED MATTERS. The Registration Statement and any other relevant filed documents (when they are available) can be obtained free of charge from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. These documents (when they are available) can also be obtained free of charge from Embrace Change at https://www.Embrace Change.com/insights or upon written request at Embrace Change Acquisition Corp., 5186 CARROLL CANYON RD, SAN DIEGO, CA, 92121.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, both as amended. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the pending transactions described herein, and the parties’ perspectives and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the proposed transaction, including the anticipated initial enterprise value and post-closing equity value, the benefits of the proposed transaction, integration plans, expected synergies and revenue opportunities, anticipated future financial and operating performance and results, including estimates for growth, the expected management and governance of the combined company, and the expected timing of the transactions. The words “expect,” “believe,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan” and similar expressions indicate forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, assumptions (including assumptions about general economic, market, industry and operational factors), known or unknown, which could cause the actual results to vary materially from those indicated or anticipated.

    Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: (i) risks related to the expected timing and likelihood of completion of the pending business combination, including the risk that the transaction may not close due to one or more closing conditions to the transaction not being satisfied or waived, such as regulatory approvals not being obtained, on a timely basis or otherwise, or that a governmental entity prohibited, delayed or refused to grant approval for the consummation of the transaction or required certain conditions, limitations or restrictions in connection with such approvals; (ii) risks related to the ability of Embrace Change and the Company to successfully integrate the businesses; (iii) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the applicable transaction agreements; (iv) the risk that there may be a material adverse change with respect to the financial position, performance, operations or prospects of the Company or Embrace Change; (v) risks related to disruption of management time from ongoing business operations due to the Proposed Transaction; (vi) the risk that any announcements relating to the Proposed Transaction could have adverse effects on the market price of Embrace Change’s securities; (vii) the risk that the Proposed Transaction and its announcement could have an adverse effect on the ability of the Company to retain customers and retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with their suppliers and customers and on their operating results and businesses generally; (viii) the Company’s estimates of expenses and profitability; and (ix) risks relating to the Combined Company’s ability to enhance its services and products, execute its business strategy, expand its customer base and maintain stable relationship with its business partners.

    A further list and description of risks and uncertainties can be found in the Prospectus filed on August 9, 2022 relating Embrace Change’s initial public offering and in the Registration Statement and proxy statement that will be filed with the SEC by Embrace Change and/or its subsidiary in connection with the proposed transactions, and other documents that the parties may file or furnish with the SEC, which you are encouraged to read. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements relate only to the date they were made, and Embrace Change, the Company and their subsidiaries undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made except as required by law or applicable regulation.

    No Offer or Solicitation

    This press release is not a proxy statement or solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the transactions described above and shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities of Embrace Change or the Company, nor shall there be any sale of any such securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or an exemption therefrom.

    Participants in the Solicitation

    Embrace Change and the Company, and certain shareholders of Embrace Change, and their respective directors, executive officers and employees and other persons may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the holders of Embrace Change ordinary shares in respect of the proposed transaction. Information about Embrace Change’s directors and executive officers and their ownership of Embrace Change ordinary shares is set forth in the Prospectus filed on August 9, 2022 and filed with the SEC as modified or supplemented by any Form 3 or Form 4 filed with the SEC since the date of that filing. Other information regarding the interests of the participants in the proxy solicitation will be included in the Registration Statement/proxy statement pertaining to the proposed transaction when it becomes available. These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above.

    Tianji and its directors and executive officers may also be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of Embrace Change in connection with the proposed business combination. A list of the names of such directors and executive officers and information regarding their interests in the proposed business combination will be included in the Registration Statement/proxy statement pertaining to the proposed transaction when it becomes available for the proposed business combination.

    Contacts:

    Embrace Change Acquisition Corp.
    contact@embracechange.top

    Tianji Tire Global (Cayman) Limited
    Ray Jin
    ray966@msn.com 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: President Lai’s remarks for Lunar New Year

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    On the night before Lunar New Year’s Eve, President Lai Ching-te wished his fellow citizens a happy Year of the Snake via video. In his recorded remarks, President Lai thanked Taiwan’s citizens for their hard work over the past year, helping Taiwan continue to progress and develop, as well as play an even more important role on the global stage. The president emphasized that he will be resolved in the missions of ensuring that the nation endures and progresses, safeguarding the lives and property of the public, and caring for the lives of the 23 million people of Taiwan, so that Taiwan keeps going strong and every person has a bright future.
    A translation of the president’s full remarks is as follows:
    My dear fellow citizens: Good evening. Tonight, the night before Lunar New Year’s Eve, many of you may be heading back home, getting ready to ring in the new year, or preparing holiday dishes. There are also many of you remaining busy at your posts.
    I want to thank all those in the armed forces, police officers, firefighters, members of the coast guard, customs officers, medical personnel, and our partners in the public utilities sector for their hard work, which ensures that our citizens can enjoy peace of mind over the holiday.
    I also want to thank everyone for your hard work over the past year. Together, we overcame many challenges, helping Taiwan continue to progress and develop, as well as play an even more important role on the global stage.
    All our citizens are heroes of Taiwan. In this new year, the government will continue striving to foster national development, spur economic growth, and contribute to citizens’ well-being.
    Not long ago, I joined Hondao Senior Citizen’s Welfare Foundation in sharing a meal with seniors living alone, and met with youth through the Taiwan Fund for Children and Families. I hope that everyone can share concern for the elderly, children, and disadvantaged members of our communities. As the saying goes, respect all elders as you would your own, and care for all children as you would your own. Starting this year, the government will push ahead with our Taiwan Global Pathfinders Initiative to help young people make their dreams a reality.
    I will also be resolved in the missions of ensuring that the nation endures and progresses, safeguarding the lives and property of the public, and caring for the lives of the 23 million people of Taiwan, so that Taiwan keeps going strong and every person has a bright future.
    There is a saying that in a harmonious family, all things prosper. I sincerely hope that every family can enjoy peace, togetherness, and happiness. The same goes for our nation. I look forward to the ruling and opposition parties being in harmony and our society uniting. Let’s work together to help our nation continue to make great strides.
    I wish everyone success and prosperity in the year to come. Happy New Year!
    Happy New Year! (Taiwanese)
    Happy New Year! (Hakka)
    Happy New Year! (Eastern Min)
    Happy Lunar New Year!(English) 

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: NZ aid for Kiribati under review after meeting cancelled with Peters

    RNZ Pacific

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s aid for Kiribati is being reviewed after its President and Foreign Minister cancelled a meeting with him last week.

    Terms of Reference for the review are still being finalised, and it remains unclear whether or not funding will be cut or projects already under way would be affected, with Peters’ office saying no decisions would be made until the review was complete.

    His office said Kiribati remained part of the RSE scheme and its eligibility for the Pacific Access Category was unaffected — for now.

    Peters had been due to meet with President Taneti Maamau last Tuesday and Wednesday, in what was to be the first trip by a New Zealand foreign minister to Kiribati in five years, and part of his effort to visit every Pacific country early in the government’s term.

    Kiribati has been receiving increased aid from China in recent years.

    In a statement, a spokesperson for Peters said he was informed about a week before the trip President Maamau would no longer be available.

    “Around a week prior to our arrival in Tarawa, we were advised that the President and Foreign Minister of Kiribati, Taneti Maamau, was no longer available to receive Mr Peters and his delegation,” the statement said.

    ‘Especially disappointing’
    “This was especially disappointing because the visit was to be the first in over five years by a New Zealand Minister to Kiribati — and was the result of a months-long effort to travel there.”

    The spokesperson said the development programme was being reviewed as a result.

    “New Zealand has been a long-standing partner to Kiribati. The lack of political-level contact makes it very difficult for us to agree joint priorities for our development programme, and to ensure that it is well targeted and delivers good value for money.

    “That’s important for both the people of Kiribati and for the New Zealand taxpayer. For this reason, we are reviewing our development programme in Kiribati. The outcomes of that review will be announced in due course.

    “Other aspects of the bilateral relationship may also be impacted.”

    New Zealand spent $102 million on the development cooperation programme with Kiribati between 2021 and 2024, including on health, education, fisheries, economic development, and climate resilience.

    Peters’ office said New Zealand deeply valued the contribution Recognised Seasonal Employer workers made to the country, and was committed to working alongside Pacific partners to ensure the scheme led to positive outcomes for all parties.

    Committed to positive outcomes
     “However, without open dialogue it is difficult to meet this commitment.”

    They also said New Zealand was committed to working alongside our Pacific partners to ensure that the Pacific Access Category leads to positive outcomes for all parties, but again this would be difficult without open dialogue.

    The spokesperson said the Kiribati people’s wellbeing was of paramount importance and the terms of reference would reflect this.

    New Zealand stood ready “as we always have, to engage with Kiribati at a high level”.

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI: Aurora Mobile’s GPTBots.ai Integrates DeepSeek R1 LLM

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SHENZHEN, China, Jan. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Aurora Mobile Limited (NASDAQ: JG) (“Aurora Mobile” or the “Company”), a leading provider of customer engagement and marketing technology services in China, today announced that its leading enterprise AI agent platform, GPTBots.ai, has integrated the innovative DeepSeek R1 large language model (LLM). This addition further enhances GPTBots.ai’s robust ecosystem of AI capabilities, which already includes some of the most advanced LLMs in the market, such as OpenAI, Azure, Meta Llama, Mistral AI, Anthropic Claude, Google Gemini, Ali Qwen and Zhipu GLM, etc.

    The integration of DeepSeek R1 underscores GPTBots.ai’s commitment to providing businesses with cutting-edge AI solutions tailored to enterprise needs. Known for its exceptional performance in complex reasoning tasks, DeepSeek R1 brings a new level of efficiency, adaptability, and cost-effectiveness to the platform, making it an invaluable tool for enterprises seeking to optimize their operations.

    A Comprehensive Ecosystem of Leading LLMs

    With the addition of DeepSeek R1, GPTBots.ai now offers one of the most comprehensive selections of LLMs in the industry. Enterprises can choose from a diverse range of models, including:

    • OpenAI GPT Series: Known for its unparalleled natural language understanding and generation capabilities.
    • Anthropic Claude: A model designed for safety and reliability in enterprise applications.
    • Meta Llama: A powerful open-source model for multilingual and multi-modal tasks.
    • Google Gemini: Renowned for its cutting-edge AI capabilities and integration with Google’s ecosystem.
    • Mistral AI and Zhipu GLM: High-performance models optimized for specific enterprise use cases.

    This extensive lineup ensures that GPTBots.ai users can select the most suitable LLM for their unique business needs, whether it’s customer service automation, data analysis, or marketing optimization.

    “The integration of DeepSeek R1 aligns perfectly with our mission to empower enterprises with advanced AI solutions and unmatched flexibility,” said Jerry Yin, VP of GPTBots.ai. “With this addition, we’re enabling businesses to tackle complex challenges with greater efficiency and flexibility, while maintaining the highest standards of enterprise performance.”

    About GPTBots.ai

    GPTBots.ai is a complementary general-purpose LLM AI bot featuring private data input and continuous fine-tuning, which can replace ‘rule-based’ chatbots, improve user experience, and reduce costs. GPTBots.ai aims to provide users with an end-to-end business platform that can seamlessly integrate robots into existing applications and workflows via plug-ins. GPTBots.ai also allow users to have great access to, and more efficiently and effectively using, AIGC to improve overall corporate productivity and output quality.

    To know more, please visit https://www.gptbots.ai.

    About Aurora Mobile Limited

    Founded in 2011, Aurora Mobile (NASDAQ: JG) is a leading provider of customer engagement and marketing technology services in China. Since its inception, Aurora Mobile has focused on providing stable and efficient messaging services to enterprises and has grown to be a leading mobile messaging service provider with its first-mover advantage. With the increasing demand for customer reach and marketing growth, Aurora Mobile has developed forward-looking solutions such as Cloud Messaging and Cloud Marketing to help enterprises achieve omnichannel customer reach and interaction, as well as artificial intelligence and big data-driven marketing technology solutions to help enterprises’ digital transformation.

    For more information, please visit https://ir.jiguang.cn/.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “confident” and similar statements. Among other things, the Business Outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as Aurora Mobile’s strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. Aurora Mobile may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, 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 but not limited to statements about Aurora Mobile’s 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, including but not limited to the following: Aurora Mobile’s strategies; Aurora Mobile’s future business development, financial condition and results of operations; Aurora Mobile’s ability to attract and retain customers; its ability to develop and effectively market data solutions, and penetrate the existing market for developer services; its ability to transition to the new advertising-driven SAAS business model; its ability to maintain or enhance its brand; the competition with current or future competitors; its ability to continue to gain access to mobile data in the future; the laws and regulations relating to data privacy and protection; general economic and business conditions globally and in China and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of the press release, and Aurora Mobile undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

    For more information, please contact:

    Aurora Mobile Limited

    E-mail: ir@jiguang.cn

    Christensen

    In China

    Ms. Xiaoyan Su

    Phone: +86-10-5900-1548

    E-mail: Xiaoyan.Su@christensencomms.com

    In U.S.

    Ms. Linda Bergkamp

    Phone: +1-480-614-3004

    Email: linda.bergkamp@christensencomms.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: Aerial beauty of Shanxi: Yuncheng salt lake in winter

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

    TAIYUAN, Dec.20 — Yuncheng Salt Lake, known as the “Dead Sea of China,” is one of three inland salt lakes with sodium sulfate in the world, covering an area of 132 square kilometers. It once served as a salt production base.

    To better protect the lake’s ecology, industrial production activities in the lake area have been completely terminated, and restoration works such as embankment renovation, dredging, and flood prevention have been carried out. Meanwhile, a protective regulation issued a few years ago has not only provided a basis for the lake’s protection, but also extended the protection scope to ecological, natural, and cultural resources. With the arrival of winter, many migratory birds have found refuge here, bringing with them beauty and vitality, further enriching the landscape of this unique ecosystem.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: APAC automotive diesel engines market to register negative 2% CAGR over 2024-29, forecasts GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    APAC automotive diesel engines market to register negative 2% CAGR over 2024-29, forecasts GlobalData

    Posted in Automotive

    The automotive engines market in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region is significantly influenced by increasingly stringent government regulations regarding exhaust emissions. Concurrently, in response to the growing trend of electrification, APAC governments are implementing policies and incentives designed to promote zero-emission vehicles. This shift is having a detrimental impact on the automotive diesel engines market. Against this backdrop, the APAC diesel engines market is expected to record a negative compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.0% over 2024-29, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    GlobalData’s latest report, “Global Sector Overview & Forecast: Engines Q3 2024” reveals that the diesel engines market is estimated at 4.6 million units in 2024 and is forecast to decrease to 4.2 million units by 2029 in the APAC region.

    Madhuchhanda Palit, Automotive Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Asian countries have demonstrated a proactive approach in implementing policies that foster the growth of the electric vehicle (EV) market, aiming for environmental sustainability and enhanced competitiveness in the global automotive manufacturing and export sectors. This strategy is contributing to a declining demand for traditional internal combustion engines (ICEs).”

    While China has assertively positioned itself as the global leader in the EV market, other Asian nations are also making significant strides toward electrification. For example, Thailand has set an ambitious goal of transitioning 30% of its automotive production to EVs by 2030. To facilitate this transition, the Board of Investment (BOI) in Thailand introduced the Electric Vehicle and Hybrid Incentive Program in 2017. This program provides various incentives, including reductions in excise tax and exemptions from corporate income tax, to manufacturers that utilize locally produced batteries and components in their vehicles.

    Both the passenger and commercial vehicle segments are currently experiencing a trend toward electrification. However, diesel engines are expected to demonstrate a slower rate of decline in comparison to petrol engines. This dynamic is particularly significant in the context of the commercial vehicle segment, where the electrification process presents considerable economic challenges for fleet owners. The high initial investment required for electric fleets, which typically exceeds that of ICE counterparts, poses a substantial barrier.

    Palit adds: “When it comes to transporting heavy loads, ICE engines remain more advantageous. The battery systems needed to power heavy cargo trucks for long-distance hauls—such as Class 8 trucks, which typically require a battery capacity of 1-2 MWh—are considerably heavier than a full diesel tank. This additional weight diminishes the load-carrying capacity of the truck relative to that of an ICE vehicle, thereby impacting overall business efficiency. Inadequate charging infrastructure also works as a major restraint and reason for reluctance among fleet owners to shift towards electrification in countries such as India, Thailand, and Indonesia.”

    Due to slower EV adoption rates, several key automotive manufacturers have announced a delay in their ‘going-all-electric’ plan. For instance, Volkswagen has reduced one-third of the planned investment for EVs and has allocated that towards ICE-powered cars. Mercedes-Benz has announced its decision to discontinue the development of the forthcoming MB.EA platform, which was intended for mid- and full-sized electric vehicles. In a similar vein, Ford is reducing its financial commitments to electrification and has significantly decreased its orders for batteries. These developments may be perceived as advantageous for the engine market and could potentially mitigate the rate of market decline.

    Palit concludes: “In light of the numerous challenges associated with widespread electrification, which necessitates substantial investment and time, manufacturers are actively seeking solutions to comply with emission standards. The demand for turbocharged engines is increasing due to their ability to enhance fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.

    “Furthermore, exhaust after-treatment solutions for ICEs, such as diesel particulate filters and selective catalytic reduction systems, are also witnessing rising demand as they effectively diminish harmful emissions. While it is anticipated that the market for ICE-powered vehicles may eventually face decline and transition towards full electrification in the APAC region, the timeline for this shift appears to be extending beyond initial expectations.”

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI China: Sam Hou Fai sworn in as Macao’s sixth-term chief executive

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    A file photo shows Sam Hou Fai attends a press conference in Macao, south China, Oct. 13, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Sam Hou Fai was sworn in on Friday as the sixth-term chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR).
    In his inaugural address, Sam pledged to lead the new-term Macao SAR government to stand united with people from all walks of life and, with collective efforts, to fully, faithfully and resolutely implement the “one country, two systems” policy, maintain constitutional order in the SAR as stipulated in China’s Constitution and the Macao SAR Basic Law, firmly safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, and faithfully implement the principle of “patriots administering Macao.”
    Born in Zhongshan, south China’s Guangdong Province, in 1962, Sam graduated from Peking University as a law major. He moved to Macao in 1986 and joined the first group of Macao’s judicial auditors in 1995.
    On Dec. 20, 1999, the day Macao SAR was established, Sam was appointed president of the SAR’s Court of Final Appeal.
    After serving for almost 25 years as the head of the top court, Sam resigned in August this year before announcing his bid for the chief executive election.
    On Sept. 20, Macao’s Electoral Affairs Commission for the Chief Executive Election confirmed Sam as the accepted candidate for the election.
    On Sept. 28, Sam presented his political platform, which highlighted enhancing public governance capabilities, accelerating appropriate economic diversification, better integration into the national development, improving educational systems, and improving people’s livelihoods.
    Sam was elected as the sixth-term chief executive designate of the Macao SAR on Oct. 13, securing 394 votes from the 400-member election committee.
    On Oct. 25, China’s State Council appointed Sam as the sixth-term chief executive of the Macao SAR.
    On Nov. 1, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Sam in Beijing. Witnessed by Xi, Premier Li Qiang presented Sam with a decree of the State Council appointing the latter.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China records over 1.1M procuratorial public interest litigation cases since 2017

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    This undated file photo shows China’s Supreme People’s Procuratorate in Beijing. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Procuratorates across China have handled more than 1.1 million public interest litigation cases since the country formally implemented procuratorial public interest litigation in 2017, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate (SPP) said on Friday.
    Of the total, more than 530,000 cases were in the field of ecological environment and resource protection, while over 200,000 cases involved food and drug safety, according to the top procuratorate.
    The SPP noted that procuratorates have also filed public interest litigation cases involving the protection of minors, the protection of heroes and martyrs, workplace safety, personal information protection, and the protection of cultural relics and heritage.
    China started a two-year pilot program to initiate procuratorial public interest litigation in July 2015 and implemented the litigation nationwide in July 2017.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China mulls draft law to promote private sector development

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    A vendor arranges seafood at the Fushansuo Market in Shinan district of Qingdao, east China’s Shandong province, Aug. 7, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Chinese lawmakers are deliberating a draft of the country’s first basic law specifically focused on the development of the private sector.

    The law will be conducive to creating a law-based environment that is favorable to the growth of all economic sectors, including the private sector, said He Rong, minister of justice, while explaining the draft on Saturday during the ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, the national legislature.

    The draft private sector promotion law covers areas such as fair competition, investment and financing environments, scientific and technological innovation, regulatory guidance, service support, rights and interests protection and legal liabilities.

    Lawmakers agreed that the law will be of great significance for further optimizing the environment for private sector development, accelerating the formation of a new development paradigm and driving high-quality growth.

    The draft has incorporated suggestions solicited from representatives of the private sector, experts, scholars and the general public, He said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Germany’s Scholz urges swift deal with China over EV dispute

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    German Chancellor Olaf Scholz gives an interview ahead of the European Council summit in Brussels, Belgium, Dec. 19, 2024. Scholz on Thursday urged the European Union (EU) to quickly reach a deal with China on the tariff dispute over electric vehicles (EVs). (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang)

    German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Thursday urged the European Union (EU) to quickly reach a deal with China on the tariff dispute over electric vehicles (EVs).

    “It makes no sense to have conflicts about this. Therefore, I appeal to everyone to bring these negotiations to a good result now,” said the German chancellor Scholz upon arriving at the European Council summit.

    China hopes that the EU will take concrete steps as soon as possible to jointly advance consultations on a price commitment plan for Chinese EVs, the Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday.

    China always stands for the resolution of trade frictions through dialogue and consultation, and has been doing its utmost in the price commitment talks, said the ministry’s spokesperson He Yongqian.

    Scholz also called on the European Commission to ease the enforcement of financial penalties for EU carmakers that fail to meet the region’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emission targets set for next year.

    “In the current global pressures facing the automotive industry, especially in Europe, it makes no sense to further burden companies with penalties for unmet targets in 2025,” Scholz said.

    “The Commission should find a way so that, if penalties become necessary, they do not impact the financial liquidity of the companies that now need to invest in electro-mobility, modern products, and vehicles,” he added.

    The European Green Deal aims for climate neutrality by 2050, including a 90 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from transport. To support this goal, stricter EU emissions rules for automakers will take effect from 2025, requiring average emissions of 93.6 grams of CO2 per kilometer or less. Automakers exceeding this limit face fines of 95 euros (about 98.45 U.S. dollars) per gram per car.

    Industry estimates suggest European automakers could face penalties totaling 15 billion euros for failing to meet the targets, with Germany’s Volkswagen, the region’s largest automaker, among the most exposed. (1 euro= 1.04 dollar)

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Pop star Jason Zhang releases pioneering concert film

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Chinese pop icon Jason Zhang has become the first singer from the Chinese mainland to release a concert film, which debuted on Dec. 20, his birthday. In an exclusive interview with China.org.cn, he shared his aim of transforming his spectacular concerts into a compelling cinematic experience.

    Jason Zhang performs in concert at the National Stadium in Beijing, 2023. [Photo courtesy of Jason Zhang Studio]

    “Jason Zhang Brilliance Tour” aims to give fans and cinemagoers an immersive experience that captures the essence of his live performances. “I wanted to condense the great concerts into a film and let everyone see it.”

    The film features his best performances of 40 songs from three sold-out concerts at the National Stadium, also known as the Bird’s Nest, in Beijing in August 2023. He specially chose the last three shows of his tour for the filming, considering the high level of coordination between his band and staff, coupled with high-quality stage and recording equipment utilized during those particular performances.

    The shows were part of the “Brilliance Tour,” which first kicked off in October 2021 in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, spanning 13 cities and attracting a staggering audience of over 900,000 fans.

    Jason Zhang poses for a photo with fans at the premiere of “Jason Zhang Brilliance Tour” in Beijing, Dec. 18, 2024. [Photo courtesy of Taopiaopiao]

    Beyond just documenting a successful tour, Zhang’s film serves as an unprecedented treat for fans unable to attend the concerts in person. The result extends the concert’s reach, opening up Zhang’s performances to a wider audience that goes beyond the physical limitations of a concert venue.

    Zhang fondly recalls the energy of the tour, emphasizing how the collaboration with his team brought the grandeur of each show to life. According to Zhang, the film is a true reflection of what he envisioned, largely due to his personal involvement in the editing and selection of performances featured in the film, ensuring a high level of authenticity.

    His aspirations don’t stop here. When asked about continuing to pioneer concert films in his career, Zhang hinted at even more cinematic ventures that blend his passion for music with the big screen. “I think preparing for the future is worthwhile,” he mentioned, contemplating further on this blend of music and cinematography.

    Zhang’s 20-year career, during which he has won more than 210 music awards, illustrates his profound impact on Chinese popular culture, making him a fitting figure to create the mainland’s first Mandarin concert film. When his concert film was first announced, the news immediately topped trending topics, and presales quickly reached more than 20 million yuan.

    A poster for “Jason Zhang Brilliance Tour.” [Image courtesy of Taopiaopiao]

    The pop star said he felt fortunate to release this film and hopes it can serve as a trailblazing move allowing more Chinese singers to follow suit and produce concert films. This, he believes, will allow people to see more of their favorite singers at the cinema and enjoy an extremely joyful music experience. It sets a fresh paradigm for how modern musicians can innovatively archive and share their artistry on a global scale.

    In Zhang’s film, there are plenty of shots of passionate fans offstage, cheering, waving and crying. When they turn on the torch function on their cellphones or wave glow sticks, the concert venue transforms into a galaxy, and the singer makes sure to enjoy these moments, often asking fans to sing along. “I felt very happy and grateful for their support. They know me well and have walked with me through highs and lows,” he said.

    He mentioned three songs he always loved: “Love of the North Star,” “The Most Beautiful Sun” and “This is Love,” which he always sang together with the audiences. These are included in the film due to their popularity and emotional resonance, radiating strength and showcasing happiness at the live shows.

    Jason Zhang on stage at a concert during his Brilliance Tour at the National Stadium in Beijing, 2023. [Image courtesy of Jason Zhang Studio]

    The pop star said that he plans to hold more concerts in stadiums across the country in the future. He shared his reflections on his artistic journey and sources of inspiration: “I think if you love something, you should work hard at it without letting too many concerns hold you back. In the process, you’ll encounter many obstacles that might try to stop you, but if you always remember the passion and purpose you started with, you will never lose your way.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Smooth logistics to serve visitors

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Secretary for Transport & Logistics Mable Chan

    Today is the Winter Solstice, one of the most important festivals for the Chinese community. First and foremost, I would like to wish everyone a joyful and peaceful reunion on this special occasion. Following the Winter Solstice, we have Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and New Year holidays around the corner. My colleagues and industry friends have already made full preparations for the seamless flow of people and goods, ensuring everyone can enjoy this festive season with their families and friends.

    Aviation Capacity Restored to Pre-Pandemic Levels

    Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) successfully operated all three runways simultaneously last month, just in time for the Christmas peak. I believe some of you may have already set off last night as the Airport Authority anticipates that we will see a peak in departures this weekend.

    Another piece of good news to share is that the Airport Authority expects daily passenger traffic to reach pre-pandemic peak of approximately 200,000 passengers during Christmas. In fact, we have reached 1,150 flight movements today, which is very close to the pre-pandemic 1,200 daily movement and these all reflect that the airport’s capacity has been fully restored. Local airlines are actively exploring new destinations to support the expansion of HKIA’s network, in order to provide more choices for travellers. To inject new demand into HKIA, we have launched direct passenger services to Xining, Zhoushan, Huangshan, and Yichang in Mainland China; Vientiane, Laos; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Sendai and Yonago, Japan; and Cairns, Australia earlier this year. Local airlines will also open direct flights in phases to the Gold Coast, Australia; Dallas, the US; Hyderabad, India; Munich, Germany; and Brussels, Belgium next year.

    World-Class Temperature-Controlled Logistics

    As the flow of people at HKIA is bustling, the achievements in our logistics industry are equally undeniable. Earlier, I celebrated Christmas with colleagues from my bureau and shared with them seasonal fruits from around the world. Hong Kong’s fruit market gathers top-quality produce with strict temperature requirements from the five continents, all at reasonable prices and arriving fresh to customers. This is made possible by Hong Kong’s world-class and highly efficient air transportation facilities, which clearly demonstrate the city’s advantages in air freight, especially in temperature-controlled logistics.

    The Christmas holiday is filled with opportunities for gatherings and feasts. I invite everyone to take the chance to experience the convenience of Hong Kong’s temperature-controlled logistics, enjoying global cuisine right here in the city. The high-quality temperature-controlled goods in Hong Kong not only benefit the 7.8 million residents but also extend their reach to the 86 million people in the Greater Bay Area (GBA).

    By the end of next year, the Airport Authority will complete the first phase of the permanent facilities for the “HKIA Dongguan Logistics Park” aiming to gradually handle 1 million tons of cargo annually. To meet the growing demand in the GBA for fresh food, such as high-value frozen tuna, salmon and other seafood, the Airport Authority is working with the Dongguan Municipal Government to establish a new customs-designated supervision area for fresh food at the HKIA Dongguan Logistics Park. The Dongguan Municipal Government has received approval from the General Administration of Customs of People’s Republic of China to establish a new designated customs supervision site for fresh food at the Logistics Park. Facilities such as refrigerated storage and inspection areas are currently being prepared for construction.

    As the world’s busiest cargo airport, HKIA has always made me proud. In 2023, HKIA handled 4.3 million tonnes of cargo. This year, the growth momentum continues, with 4.5 million tonnes of cargo processed in the first eleven months alone, surpassing the total cargo volume for the entire previous year. HKIA was named “Cargo Airport of the Year – Asia Pacific” and “Air Cargo Technology Provider of The Year” at the 11th Payload Asia Awards, held in Singapore. I hope HKIA continues their excellent work, propelling both passenger and cargo services to new heights.

    Welcoming travellers of Shenzhen’s Multiple-Entry Individual Visit Scheme

    The central government has resumed the multiple-entry Individual Visit Scheme (IVS) for Shenzhen permanent residents and is implementing a new arrangement to expand the multiple-entry IVS to Shenzhen residence permit holders on December 1. In addition, various exciting activities are taking place across Hong Kong in December, including the New Year’s Eve countdown fireworks display, and it is expected that the number of visitors to Hong Kong will significantly increase during that period. I sincerely invite travellers from the Mainland and overseas to stay a few more days in Hong Kong to experience the charm of this metropolitan city and the unique blend of Eastern and Western Christmas atmosphere.

    We have also made arrangements for transportation on New Year’s Eve. The Transport Department will coordinate with the opening hours of boundary control points to enhance transportation services connecting various ports, including increasing the frequency of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge shuttle bus (Gold Bus), the Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang cross-boundary shuttle bus service. Public transport operators will increase their capacity. The Mass Transit Railway (MTR) Corporation will not only provide overnight service on most railway lines on New Year’s Eve but also extend the service of the East Rail Line to and from the MTR Lo Wu Station. There will be a bus route between MTR Sheung Shui Station and San Tin Public Transport Interchange to facilitate East Rail Line passengers in using the 24-hour crossing at Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang after the service to Lo Wu concludes.

    Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all citizens a sweet and warm Christmas, and to carry the joy into 2025. I also want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all those who will be on duty in various locations during the holiday period to serve the public.

    Secretary for Transport & Logistics Mable Chan wrote this article and posted it on her blog on December 21.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi stresses progress in advancing ‘one country, two systems’ at Macao SAR anniversary celebration, new gov’t inauguration

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

    Xi stresses progress in advancing ‘one country, two systems’ at Macao SAR anniversary celebration, new gov’t inauguration

    MACAO, Dec. 21 — A meeting to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Macao’s return to the motherland and the inaugural ceremony of the sixth-term government of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) was held at the Macao East Asian Games Dome Friday morning. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, attended the meeting and delivered an important speech.

    Over the past 25 years since Macao’s return to the motherland, an enormous success has been achieved in advancing the cause of “one country, two systems” with distinctive Macao features, Xi noted, stressing that Macao has undergone earthshaking transformation, and its international standing has increased significantly. He expressed expectations for the new government of the SAR to rally and lead the people of all walks of life in Macao in seizing opportunities, pressing ahead with reform, shouldering responsibilities and making greater contributions. This entails further leveraging the institutional strength of “one country, two systems,” and making new achievements in the high-quality advancement of the cause of “one country, two systems,” he said.

    Inside the venue, the atmosphere was solemn and warm. On the podium, the national flag and national emblem of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), and the regional flag of the Macao SAR were particularly eye-catching. When Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, entered the venue accompanied by Sam Hou Fai, the sixth chief executive of the Macao SAR, and his wife, Wong Ho Peng, the audience stood up and gave a warm round of applause.

    At 10:00 a.m., the celebration and inauguration ceremony began. All rose to their feet and sang the national anthem of the PRC.

    Xi ascended the podium to administer the oaths. Sam took the oath of office first. Facing the national flag, the national emblem, and the regional flag of the Macao SAR, he raised his right hand and solemnly took the oath in accordance with the Macao SAR Basic Law. After the oath, Xi and Sam shook hands firmly.

    Next, Xi administered the oath of office to the principal officials of the sixth-term government of the Macao SAR, led by Sam. After the oath was completed, Xi shook hands with each of them.

    Then, Sam administered the oath of office to the members of the Executive Council of the Macao SAR.

    Amid warm applause, Xi delivered an important speech. At the outset, on behalf of the central government and people of all ethnic groups across China, he extended cordial greetings to all Macao residents. He extended warm congratulations to Mr. Sam Hou Fai, the newly inaugurated sixth-term chief executive of the Macao SAR, and to principal officials of the sixth-term Macao SAR government and members of the Executive Council of the Macao SAR. He also expressed heartfelt appreciation to all fellow Chinese, both at home and overseas, and foreign friends for their longstanding commitment to and support for the cause of “one country, two systems” and Macao’s prosperity, stability and development.

    He stressed that over the past 25 years since Macao’s return to the motherland, the systems for implementing the policy of “one country, two systems” have kept improving in the special administrative region, and national sovereignty, security and development interests have been effectively safeguarded; economic and social development has seen a historic leap, and residents in the region enjoy a much stronger sense of gain, happiness and security; external cooperation has continued to expand, and the SAR’s position as “One Center, One Platform, One Base” has grown steadily.

    The great achievements of Macao since its return to the motherland have proven to the world that the cause of “one country, two systems,” with its distinctive institutional strengths and strong vitality, is a good system that sustains the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao, he said, adding it is a good system that facilitates endeavors to build China into a great country and achieve national rejuvenation, and it is a good system for ensuring peaceful coexistence and mutual benefit between different social systems.

    “So we must stay committed to this cause. The values embodied in the cause of ‘one country, two systems,’ namely, peace, inclusiveness, openness and sharing, are relevant to not only China but also the whole world. These values should be cherished by us all,” Xi said.

    He emphasized that developments in Hong Kong and Macao since their return to the motherland tell us that to sustain the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao and further advance the cause of “one country, two systems,” it is imperative to observe the following four principles. First, we should stay committed to the fundamental policy of one country and fully deliver the benefits of two systems. We should place our country’s sovereignty, security and development interests above everything else; we should implement the overall jurisdiction of the central authorities; and we should not deviate from this commitment under any circumstance. At the same time, we should respect the differences between the two systems, fully ensure a high degree of autonomy of the two SARs of Hong Kong and Macao, and continue to fully, faithfully and resolutely implement the policy of “one country, two systems,” under which the people of Hong Kong administer Hong Kong and the people of Macao administer Macao, both with a high degree of autonomy. We should see that this policy is not changed, deviated from, bent or distorted.

    Second, we should ensure high-standard security and pursue high-quality development. Security underpins development, and development, in turn, ensures security. We must remain firm in both safeguarding security and promoting development. We should cherish the hard-won peace and stability we enjoy today, focus our energy on growing the economy and pursuing development, and continue to create new growth drivers and build new strengths. Third, we should leverage the unique strengths of Hong Kong and Macao and reinforce their connectivity with both the mainland and the world. Hong Kong and Macao should be more open and inclusive, expand international linkages, and raise their global standing and appeal. Hong Kong and Macao should fully align themselves with the national development strategies, accelerate integration into China’s overall national development, and better play their role as bridges in ushering in a new development paradigm. Fourth, we should carry forward our core values and boost inclusiveness and harmony. It is imperative to live by the core values of loving the country and Hong Kong and of loving the country and Macao, enhance exchanges and integration of diverse cultures, and rally full public support at home and abroad to create the greatest synergy in advancing the cause of “one country, two systems.”

    Xi expressed four hopes for the newly inaugurated government of the Macao SAR — first, Macao should endeavor to promote appropriate economic diversification; second, Macao should endeavor to enhance governance as a special administrative region; third, Macao should endeavor to build itself into a platform for higher-standard opening up; and fourth, Macao should endeavor to maintain social harmony and stability.

    The young people are the hope and future of Macao, Xi said, stressing that they are also a vibrant force in building Macao and building China. He expressed the hope that the young people in Macao will keep the SAR and the motherland close to their heart, set ambitious goals, take solid steps, advance and carry forward the cause of “one country, two systems,” and thus realize their potentials by fully engaging in endeavors to build a great motherland and a beautiful Macao.

    Xi pointed out that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. At its Third Plenary Session, the 20th Central Committee of the CPC made a systematic decision to further deepen reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization. The cause of building China into a great country is being advanced across the board, with bright prospects unfolding. The Chinese nation is marching toward its great rejuvenation in unstoppable strides. I am convinced that with the full, faithful and resolute implementation of the policy of “one country, two systems,” with the concerted effort of the Macao SAR Government and all sectors of its society, and with the strong support of the great motherland, Macao will surely open up a new horizon and achieve new advances in development, and make even greater contribution to building a great country and moving toward national rejuvenation on all fronts through Chinese modernization.

    While delivering remarks, Sam said as the sixth-term chief executive of the Macao SAR, he understands well the immense responsibility that comes with this glorious mission. “We will take the proclamation ‘Striving Together, Upholding Integrity and Innovating’ as our philosophy of administration. With our collective efforts, we will remain committed to upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground. We will fully, faithfully, and resolutely implement the ‘one country, two systems’ policy,” he said. “We will spare no effort to maintain constitutional order in the SAR as stipulated in the Constitution and the Basic Law, resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, faithfully implement the principle of “patriots administering Macao,” and continue to make new advances for the implementation of the ‘one country, two systems’ policy enriched with Macao characteristics,” he said. He stressed that with the staunch support of the motherland and the united efforts of all Macao residents to forge ahead, the SAR government is confident and capable of making Macao, “the apple of the eye” of the motherland, become more lustrous, thus playing a better role and making greater contribution to advancing national rejuvenation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization.

    Senior officials including Cai Qi, Li Hongzhong, He Weidong, He Lifeng, Wang Xiaohong, Wang Dongfeng and Xia Baolong attended the event.

    Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Ho Hau Wah, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR John Lee, former chief executives of the Macao SAR — Chui Sai On and Ho Iat Seng, as well as representatives from various sectors of Macao and special guests also participated in the event.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Caitlin Johnstone: Where does the aggression really begin?

    Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. –

    COMMENTARY: By Caitlin Johnstone

    New York prosecutors have charged Luigi Mangione with “murder as an act of terrorism” in his alleged shooting of health insurance CEO Brian Thompson earlier this month.

    This news comes out at the same time as a Haaretz report titled “‘No Civilians. Everyone’s a Terrorist’: IDF Soldiers Expose Arbitrary Killings and Rampant Lawlessness in Gaza’s Netzarim Corridor.”

    The report contains testimony from Israeli troops that civilians are being murdered in Gaza and are then being retroactively designated as terrorists to justify their execution.

    “We’re killing civilians there who are then counted as terrorists,” a recently discharged officer told Haaretz.

    These two stories together say so much about the way the label “terrorist” is used under the US-centralised power umbrella.

    The guy who shot the health insurance CEO is a terrorist, but the people systematically slaughtering civilians in Gaza are not terrorists. The people fighting against those who are slaughtering the civilians are terrorists, and noncombatants are being categorized as belonging to this terrorist organisation in order to justify killing them. The al-Qaeda affiliates in Syria were terrorists, but now they’re a US puppet regime so soon they won’t be terrorists  —  but they need to be designated terrorists for a little while longer because the claim that Syria is crawling with terrorists is Israel’s justification for its recent land grabs there. The Uyghur militant group ETIM used to be a terrorist group, but now they’re not a terrorist group because they can be used to help carve up Syria and maybe fight China later on. The IRGC is a military wing of a sovereign nation, but it counts as a terrorist group because of vibes or something.

    Is that clear enough?

    Really the label “terrorist” is nothing more than a tool of imperial narrative control which gets moved around based on whether or not someone’s use of violence is deemed legitimate by the managers of the empire. Because Mangione’s alleged crime has ignited a public interest in class warfare, the label “terrorism” is being used to frame it as an especially heinous act of evil against an innocent member of the public.

    The empire’s favourite trick is to begin the historical record at the moment its enemies retaliate against its abuses. Oh no, a health insurance CEO was victimised by an evil act of terrorism. Oh no, Israel was just innocently minding its own business when it was viciously attacked by Hamas. Oh no, Iran attacked Israel completely out of the blue and now Israel must retaliate. Oh no, Russia just launched an entirely unprovoked war on Ukraine.

    Everything that led up to the unauthorised act of violence is erased from the record, because all of the violence, provocation and abuse which gave rise to the unauthorised act of violence were authorized by the empire. Authorised aggression doesn’t count as aggression.

    Whoever controls the narrative controls the world. If you control the narrative you can control not only when the historical record of violence begins but what kinds of violence qualify as violence. Killing people by depriving them of healthcare because denying healthcare services is how your company increases its profit margins? That’s not violence. Inflicting tyranny and abuse upon a deliberately marginalised ethnic group in an apartheid state? That’s not violence. Violence is when you respond to those forceful aggressions with forceful aggressions of your own.

    If we are to become a healthy society, we’re going to have to stop allowing some forms of violence, aggression and abuse to be redacted from the official records while others are listed and condemned. Those who care about truth and justice account for all forms of violence, aggression and abuse, not only those which inconvenience the rich and powerful.

    It is an act of aggression to do things which sicken and impoverish others in order to advance your own wealth.

    It is an act of aggression to pollute the biosphere we all depend on for survival in order to increase your profit margins.

    It is an act of aggression to use your wealth to manipulate your nation’s politics in ways which exacerbate inequality and injustice.

    It is an act of aggression to maintain an apartheid state which cannot exist without nonstop violence.

    It is an act of aggression to surround the earth with military bases and encircle nations which disobey your dictates.

    It is an act of aggression to try to rule the world using military violence, proxy conflicts, staged coups, threats, starvation sanctions, and financial and economic coercion.

    These are all acts of aggression, and any retaliation against them will never be an unprovoked attack. As we move into the future while these abuses exacerbate, it’s going to become very important to maintain an acute awareness of this.

    Caitlin Johnstone is an Australian independent journalist and poet. Her articles include The UN Torture Report On Assange Is An Indictment Of Our Entire Society. She publishes a website and Caitlin’s Newsletter. This article is republished with permission.

    This article was first published on Café Pacific.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: HKSAR Government sternly refute the so-called report of US Congressional-Executive Commission on China

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) today (December 21) strongly disapproved of and opposed the so-called “2024 Annual Report” issued by the United States (US) Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), which made malicious smearing remarks against multiple areas in the HKSAR.     An HKSAR Government spokesperson said, “The HKSAR Government strongly disapproves and opposes the CECC’s repeated tactics to interfere in the affairs of the HKSAR through the so-called annual report, and make slandering remarks against Hong Kong, where ‘one country, two systems’ is successfully implemented. The US is once again making unfounded and fact-twisting remarks. Such attempt to undermine the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and interfere in Hong Kong’s law-based governance is smack of despicable political manipulation with ill intentions.”     The spokesperson said, “The CECC openly clamour for so-called ‘sanctions’ with an aim to intimidate HKSAR officials who resolutely safeguard national security. The HKSAR Government strongly condemns its political grandstanding rife with ill intentions, which have been seen through by all. The HKSAR despises the so-called ‘sanctions’ and will not be intimidated by such a despicable behaviour. The HKSAR will resolutely continue to discharge the duty of safeguarding national security.”     The spokesperson reiterated, “The HKSAR Government steadfastly safeguards national sovereignty, security and development interests, and fully and faithfully lives up to the highest principle of ‘one country, two systems’. The HKSAR Government strongly demands the US to immediately stop acting against the international law and basic norms of international relations and interfering in China’s internal affairs and Hong Kong affairs.”     Regarding the slandering remarks against the HKSAR in the US’ so-called report, the Government sternly refuted them in the ensuing paragraphs.Safeguarding National Security           The HKSAR Government spokesperson said, “The HKSAR Government strongly opposes the absurd and untrue content regarding legislation safeguarding national security in the HKSAR contained in the US’ so-called report. In accordance with international law and international practice based on the Charter of the United Nations, safeguarding national security is an inherent right of all sovereign states. Many common law jurisdictions, including the US, the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada, have enacted multiple pieces of legislation and implemented measures to safeguard national security.”     The HKSAR Government spokesperson stressed that, “The so-called report by the US completely ignores the severe national security threats posed by the riots and the Hong Kong version of ‘color revolution’ in 2019, and neglected the fact that the implementation of the National Security Law has enabled the livelihood and economic activities of the Hong Kong community, and the business environment as well, to return to normalcy. This is a clear demonstration of hypocrisy with double standards. In fact, security and development work together like the two wings of a bird. Development requires a safe social environment. In March 2024, the HKSAR fulfilled the constitutional responsibility and historic mission of enacting local legislation for Article 23 of the Basic Law. The newly enacted Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO) achieves convergence, compatibility and complementarity with the Hong Kong National Security Law (HKNSL). Together they form a comprehensive legal system and enforcement mechanism for safeguarding national security. Now, Hong Kong can finally advance from stability to prosperity following the transition from chaos to order. The US must immediately recognise the fact that the Hong Kong National Security Law and other relevant legislation have restored normalcy to the lives and economic activities of Hong Kong residents and the business environment.     “As the HKSAR Government has emphasised time and again that the laws safeguarding national security in the HKSAR are precisely for safeguarding national sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity; and ensuring the full and faithful implementation of the principle of ‘one country, two systems’ under which the people of Hong Kong administer Hong Kong with a high degree of autonomy. It also better safeguards the fundamental rights and freedoms of the residents of the HKSAR and other people, including those doing business, in the city. The relevant laws have set out clear definitions and criminal elements which will not affect regular exchanges between Hong Kong residents and people here for business with foreign countries.     “Extraterritorial effect for the offences endangering national security under the HKNSL and the SNSO fully aligns with the principles of international law, international practice and common practice adopted in various countries and regions. It is both necessary and legitimate, and is also in line with those of other countries and regions around the world (including the US, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and member states of the European Union). The Police have the responsibility to pursue those who are suspected of committing offences endangering national security outside Hong Kong.     “Smearing remarks in the US’ so-called report pinpointing at custodial and rehabilitation work of the HKSAR was untrue, misleading, irresponsible and absurd. The HKSAR Government solemnly points out that the Correctional Services Department (CSD) is committed to ensuring that the custodial environment is secure, safe, humane, appropriate and healthy, and have put in place established mechanism to ensure the rights of persons-in-custody (PICs) are protected, including arrangement of regular inspection of independent visitors, namely Justices of the Peace. The CSD performs its duties in accordance with law and regulations in managing all PICs, regardless of their background.”Safeguarding Due Administration of Justice and Rule of Law          The spokesperson said, “That Hong Kong is a society underpinned by the rule of law and has always adhered to the principle that laws must be obeyed and lawbreakers held accountable is well recognised by international communities. The Basic Law clearly stipulates that the Judiciary shall exercise judicial power independently in accordance with the law, free from any interference. As guaranteed by the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights, everyone charged with a criminal offence has the right to a fair hearing. The Department of Justice of the HKSAR, by virtue of Article 63 of the Basic Law, shall control criminal prosecutions and make independent prosecutorial decisions based on an objective assessment of all admissible evidence and applicable laws. The courts decide cases strictly in accordance with the evidence and all applicable laws. Cases will never be handled any differently owing to the profession, political beliefs or background of the persons involved. The prosecution has the burden to prove beyond reasonable doubt the commission of an offence before a defendant may be convicted by the court.”Safeguarding Rights and Freedoms          The HKSAR Government spokesperson said, “The HKSAR Government steadfastly safeguards the rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong people as protected under the law. Since Hong Kong’s return to the motherland, human rights in the city have always been robustly guaranteed constitutionally by both the Constitution and the Basic Law. The HKNSL and the SNSO also 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. Nonetheless, just as the case with other places in the world, such rights and freedoms are not absolute. The ICCPR also expressly states that some of them may be subject to restrictions as prescribed by law that are necessary for protection of national security, public safety, public order or the rights and freedoms of others, etc.”

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