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Category: DJF

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Schools champion climate education in drive to towards Net Zero

    Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen

    Members of the Education and Children’s Services Committee were today (Tuesday 24 June) updated on the significant strides made by Aberdeen schools in educating young people about Climate Change, Biodiversity and the city’s Net Zero ambitions during the 2024-25 school session.

    The report, which detailed a wide range of impactful events and initiatives delivered across schools, as well as the continued efforts of the Youth Climate Change Group, was approved by committee with the exception of recommendation 2.3.  The full report can be viewed here.

    Councillor Martin Greig, convener, of the Education and Children’s Services Committee, said: “Our schools are playing a vital role in preparing young people to meet the challenges of the climate emergency. Through innovative learning and strong partnerships, we are empowering the next generation to lead the way towards a more sustainable and equitable future for Aberdeen and beyond.”

    Councillor Jessica Mennie, vice-convener of the Education and Children Services Committee, said: “The enthusiasm and creativity shown by our young people in tackling climate change is truly inspiring. By embedding sustainability into everyday learning and supporting youth-lead initiatives, we are not only educating but also encouraging future leaders to help shape a greener Aberdeen.”

    Aberdeen’s schools continue to embrace the Learning for Sustainability (LfS) agenda, integrating sustainable development, biodiversity, climate change, outdoor learning, and global citizenship into the Curriculum for Excellence.

    These themes are explored through interdisciplinary learning, project-based learning, science, social studies, and outdoor education, empowering young people to take meaningful action for a better future. Aberdeen now has 11 schools that are recognised as Eco Schools and awarded Green Flag status by Keep Scotland Beautiful.

    St Joseph’s RC School won the Scottish Fair Trade ‘In the Bag’ award in recognition of its 10-year commitment to fair and ethical trade, including being the first school in Scotland to commit to supporting and working with communities in India.

    The Youth Climate Change Group remains a vital platform for pupil voice and leadership and the committee thanked pupils for their significant efforts in promoting and actioning environmental work in school and citywide.

    Committee members agreed that this important area of focused activity should continue and instructed the Chief Officer for Education and Lifelong Learning to support the Youth Climate Change Group to collate and share a yearly summary of the most impactful projects in their schools, through means to be determined by the group, to inspire other young people across the city.

    The committee agreed that representatives from the Youth Climate Change Group should be invited to present the Climate Change report to committee in subsequent years.

    In partnership with the City Development and Regeneration Service, the Education Service will launch the ABZ Pipeline – a new initiative designed to create curriculum-linked pathways into the renewable sector.  This programme will connect learners with employers, offering real-world experiences and helping pupils align their career planning with Aberdeen’s green economy.

    Aberdeen for a Fairer World (AFW) continues to play a key role in supporting schools with climate-related activities. Their work includes developing projects with local authorities, ETZ, and employers, identifying skills and employment opportunities, and assessing the impact of in-school activities.

    A comprehensive record of school participation during Climate Week North East 2025 will be published in the summer term.

    Beyond the classroom, pupils are engaging in film screenings, workshops, barista events, and Fair Trade initiatives – demonstrating their commitment to sustainability and community action.  These efforts also contribute to wider achievement and support National Qualifications.

    These initiatives also align with the Local Outcome Improvement Plan (LOIP) Stretch Outcome 13, which aims to reduce Aberdeen’s carbon emissions by at least 61% by 2026. As the city works towards Net Zero by 2045, the continued focus on climate education and youth engagement is essential to building a resilient, sustainable future.

    The committee instructed the Chief Officer of Education and Lifelong Learning to provide a progress update within one calendar year. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Transition Day for Greenfield Academy

    Source: Scotland – City of Dundee

    Primary 7 pupils heading to Greenfield Academy have taken part in a special transition day at the Regional Performance Centre for Sport. 

    With Greenfield Academy set to open in August for the new school year, pupils from the feeder primary schools have gathered at the Regional Performance Centre (RPC) to mark this important step in their journey. 

    Over 300 new s1 pupils took part in a range of indoor and outdoor activities and had the opportunity to meet their new classmates and teachers. The activities were organised by the school in partnership with Dundee Active Schools, Community Learning and Development East Youth Team, and the Dundee Battalion Army Cadet Force. 

    Greenfield Academy is part of the new £100 million Drumgeith Community Campus, which is the largest investment in education, sport and community provision in the city and will deliver state-of-the-art facilities and services to the area. 

    Children, Families and Communities Convener Stewart Hunter said: “This is a really exciting time for our young people who will be attending the new Greenfield Academy. 

    “It’s great that even though they can’t go and do this at the school, they are still able to come together, get to know each other, and meet their future teachers.  

    “I know a lot of work has gone into making this possible, and I would like to thank everyone involved.” 

    Greenfield Academy Headteacher, Johnny Lothian said: “Our students are looking forward to taking the step to their new Secondary School and in August will become Greenfield Academy first-ever S1 intake. Already they are showing themselves to be a superb year group with great potential.” 

    The feeder primary schools are Claypotts Castle, Rowantree, Fintry, Ballumbie, Mill of Mains, and Longhaugh.  

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: All conditions for opening the second Lu Ban workshop in Kazakhstan will be ready by October of this year

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, June 25 (Xinhua) — All the conditions for opening the second Lu Ban workshop in Kazakhstan, located in the compass of the L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, will be ready by October this year, the Tianjin Ribao (Tianjin daily) newspaper reported.

    Lu Ban’s workshop is a vocational education brand pioneered by Tianjin-based educational institutions. The decision to open a second workshop in Kazakhstan was announced in July 2024.

    According to the agreement signed between China and Kazakhstan, the Lu Ban Workshop, established by the Tianjin Vocational Institute and the Eurasian National University, will be designed to train specialists in the field of digital technologies.

    From June 23 to July 16, Tianjin Vocational Institute is holding a training course for teachers for the aforementioned workshop.

    At the same time, as reported in the Tianjin Ribao newspaper, the reconstruction work of the workshop premises is nearing completion. The first batch of training equipment was delivered to Kazakhstan and will be officially handed over to the Kazakh side in July of this year.

    Lu Ban’s first workshop in Kazakhstan opened in December 2023 at the East Kazakhstan Technical University. To date, more than 400 students in transport specialties have been trained there. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Premier of the State Council of China: China is confident and capable of maintaining dynamic economic growth /detailed version – 1/

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    TIANJIN, June 25 (Xinhua) — China is confident in its strength and ability to maintain dynamic economic growth, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said Wednesday while addressing the opening ceremony of the 16th annual meeting of emerging global leaders of the World Economic Forum (WEF), also known as “Summer Davos”, in the north Chinese city of Tianjin.

    “For many years, regardless of changes in the international situation, the Chinese economy has maintained good momentum,” Li Qiang said.

    He noted that in the first quarter of 2025, China’s GDP grew by 5.4 percent, although external shocks became more numerous. “Key economic indicators continued to improve in the second quarter, and, as far as I know, international organizations have recently increased their forecasts for China’s economic growth,” the head of the Chinese government noted.

    According to him, China’s economic development is not short-term spurts, but a steady movement toward long-term goals. Li Qiang noted that China is moving toward becoming a high-income country, driven by strong demand for consumer upgrading in the country, which is the world’s second-largest consumer and import market.

    China aims to become a giant consumer powerhouse built on a solid foundation of manufacturing, the premier added, expressing confidence that China’s continuous breakthroughs and achievements in innovation will inject new impetus into global development, helping to overcome the global problem of economic slowdown.

    During the Summer Davos, WEF President Borge Brende shared his views on China’s economic prospects.

    “I am relatively optimistic about the Chinese economy in both the medium and long term. Although China has already diversified its economy, the country is still transforming from manufacturing goods to providing more services and digital trade. We are also seeing a lot of new technologies being applied. China is doing very well in artificial intelligence and robotics,” he said.

    Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair also drew attention to China’s impressive transformation in recent decades and called on other countries to try to understand and engage with China rather than isolate it. Deepening engagement is important, he said, with a particular focus on people-to-people exchanges in addition to government-to-government and business cooperation.

    This year’s Summer Davos was titled “Entrepreneurship in a New Era.” The event will run from June 24 to 26, bringing together more than 1,700 prominent politicians, businessmen, academics, and media representatives from more than 90 countries and regions around the world. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Former Hunan CPPCC Vice Chairman Sentenced to Death with Reprieve for Bribery

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    GUANGZHOU, June 25 (Xinhua) — Dai Daojin, former deputy secretary of the Party leadership group and vice chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) committee in central China’s Hunan Province, was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve on Tuesday for accepting bribes.

    Dai Daojin was found to have accepted more than 107 million yuan (about $15 million) in bribes over a period of more than two decades, beginning in 2000.

    According to a statement from the Zhuhai Intermediate People’s Court in Guangdong Province, Dai Daojin, while holding various positions in Hunan Province, assisted third parties in matters such as running businesses, concluding project contracts and promoting their careers.

    Dai Daojin was deprived of his political rights for life. All his personal property and illegal income were confiscated and retained by the state, the court said in its verdict. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: US started Iran nuclear crisis: Chinese envoy

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    UNITED NATIONS, June 25 (Xinhua) — It was the United States that started the Iranian nuclear crisis, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations Fu Cong said Tuesday in response to Iran’s accusations at a UN Security Council meeting.

    The Chinese side noted that some Security Council members do nothing but accuse Iran of violating non-proliferation obligations, trying to justify military actions by Israel and the United States, he noted.

    “China would like to remind these countries of the following basic facts: It was the United States that started the Iranian nuclear crisis,” Fu Cong said.

    He added that the US unilaterally withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018. Washington has since reimposed and strengthened unilateral sanctions against Iran and adopted “maximum pressure” measures that have prevented Tehran from reaping the economic dividends provided by the agreement and forced Tehran to reduce its commitments under the deal.

    The United States also, to the detriment of its own authority, launched military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, undermining the negotiation process it had started and leading the Iranian nuclear issue to another dead end, which led to a sharp aggravation of the situation in the region, he said.

    Iran’s sincerity in resolving nuclear crisis should be appreciated, Chinese diplomat says

    He noted that Iran still continues to fulfill its non-proliferation obligations and the comprehensive safeguards agreement. Tehran has repeatedly stated that it does not seek to develop nuclear weapons.

    According to Fu Cong, Iran has held several rounds of professional and pragmatic negotiations with the US in a constructive manner and has never given up on its diplomatic efforts. However, some countries, by one-sidedly citing the report of the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and ignoring the positive aspects of Iran’s cooperation with the agency, sought to pass a resolution by the IAEA Board of Governors without proper consultation. According to him, this jeopardizes the atmosphere of dialogue, increasing tension and confrontation. “These countries should carefully consider the negative consequences of their irresponsible move,” he said.

    Israel and the United States resorted to the use of force against Iran on the basis of “possible future threats,” which is a serious violation of international law and Iran’s sovereignty. The attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards set a bad precedent that threatens the international non-proliferation regime. China once again unequivocally condemns this, the PRC representative noted.

    The above-mentioned actions have also undermined diplomatic efforts to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue and created a high degree of uncertainty regarding the implementation of Security Council Resolution 2231. China is seriously concerned, Fu Cong concluded. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Fuel shortages, fighting threaten Gaza water supplies – UN

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    UNITED NATIONS, June 25 (Xinhua) — United Nations humanitarian officials warned Tuesday that the death toll, including among children, will rise if the blockade of fuel supplies to Gaza continues, amid reports of continued shelling of Gazans at aid distribution sites.

    The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that the death toll in Gaza continues to rise in the ongoing conflict with Israel, including cases of shelling of civilians near humanitarian aid distribution points outside UN control, as well as along routes designated by the Israeli authorities for the delivery of humanitarian supplies.

    The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said last week that if the current blockade of fuel supplies to Gaza, which has lasted for more than 100 days, is not lifted, children will begin to die of thirst.

    The number of children hospitalized for acute malnutrition increased by almost 50 percent in May compared to April, the organization said, highlighting the urgent need for drinking water as the infrastructure for its production has been largely destroyed.

    Humanitarian officials have also expressed grave concern about the mental health of children in Gaza.

    The UN and its partners have deployed more than 2,000 specially trained staff to provide psychological support, OCHA said. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China’s UN envoy calls for return to political settlement of Iranian nuclear issue

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    UNITED NATIONS, June 25 (Xinhua) — China’s permanent representative to the United Nations Fu Cong called on the Security Council on Tuesday for a return to the path of a political settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue.

    China believes there is still hope for a peaceful resolution to the issue as diplomatic means have not been exhausted, he said.

    According to the Permanent Representative, all parties need to learn lessons from the crisis, resume dialogue on an equal basis and facilitate a return to the path of political settlement.

    First of all, the fighting should stop, he said, adding that China had taken into account the current events in the region and hoped for a real ceasefire.

    “The parties concerned must take practical measures to prevent the situation from escalating again. At the same time, the international community must make efforts to defuse the situation and promote dialogue and negotiations,” the diplomat said.

    To maintain a balance between nuclear non-proliferation and peaceful uses of the atom, he called on Iran to continue to fulfill its commitment not to develop nuclear weapons and on all other parties to fully respect Iran’s right as a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

    Noting that China supports all efforts to resume talks, Fu Cong said the Security Council should play a constructive role in helping the parties build trust, overcome differences and create conditions conducive to the resumption of talks.

    He stressed that the countries concerned should refrain from threatening to return to sanctions against Iran on every occasion, as this would only exacerbate tensions and confrontation and put diplomatic efforts at further risk.

    “A proper solution to the Iranian nuclear issue has a direct bearing on the credibility and effectiveness of the international non-proliferation regime and is of crucial importance to peace and stability in the Middle East,” Fu Cong stressed.

    “The situation in the region is currently at an important critical stage. China calls on all parties to act urgently and responsibly to de-escalate the situation and resume negotiations as soon as possible,” the diplomat added.

    As a permanent member of the Security Council and a party to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on the Iranian nuclear program (JCPOA), China will continue to adhere to an objective and impartial position, strengthen communication and coordination with all parties, enhance cooperation and advocate justice, so as to play a constructive role in restoring peace in the Middle East and advancing a political settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue, the Permanent Representative concluded. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China Eastern Airlines Launches Xi’an-Istanbul Direct Flight

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    ISTANBUL, June 25 (Xinhua) — A China Eastern Airlines flight carrying more than 200 passengers landed at Istanbul Airport at around 7:00 a.m. local time on Tuesday, marking the launch of the airline’s new direct route between northwest China’s Xi’an and Istanbul, Turkey.

    This is the airline’s second direct route connecting China and Turkey, after Shanghai-Istanbul. According to the Shanghai-based airline, the new route is operated by a wide-body Airbus A330 aircraft three times a week – on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

    At the opening ceremony of the first return flight from Istanbul at the airport on Tuesday morning, China’s Deputy Consul General in Istanbul Wu Jian called the opening of the new route an important step in building a convenient “air Silk Road” between the two historic cities.

    According to him, the new route will undoubtedly give new impetus to the development of Chinese-Turkish economic cooperation, cultural exchanges, as well as the joint promotion of the Belt and Road Initiative. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Second stage of China’s largest offshore gas field commissioned

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, June 25 (Xinhua) — China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC) said Wednesday that the second phase of its Shenhai-1 (Deepwater-1) gas field in the South China Sea has begun production, marking the completion of the country’s largest such project.

    According to the corporation, annual gas production at this field is expected to exceed 4.5 billion cubic meters, reaching the maximum design value.

    The geological reserves of the Shenhai-1 field amount to more than 150 billion cubic meters. Gas production has been carried out here since June 2021, when the first stage of the project was commissioned.

    Natural gas produced at the field is transported to coastal terminals in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Sanya City in Hainan Province and Zhuhai City in Guangdong Province, supplying key economic regions and integrating into the state gas pipeline network.

    Shenhai-1 is the country’s most complex deepwater gas field project. It is being developed under the highest temperatures and pressures ever encountered in inland shelf exploration. The maximum operating depth exceeds 1,500 m, and the deepest wells are 5,000 m.

    Project manager Liu Kang said the production infrastructure and technology system formed as part of the project will help carry out comprehensive deep-sea oil and gas exploration in the future, increasing the role of marine resources in ensuring the country’s energy supply. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Silver Mercury: GUU student receives award for creative idea for Avito

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    A student from the State University of Management took third place in the youth award at the largest marketing and advertising festival Silver Mercury.

    The competition brought together 144 projects from participants from 15 cities in Russia and other countries, since all defenses took place online, this allowed us to go beyond geographical boundaries.

    As part of the competition, talented students and creators solved real business cases and received expert assessment. The tasks for the participants were set by Magnit, SIBUR, Avito, Samolet, the TV channel “Friday!” and GPM Reklama, whose representatives closely followed the progress of the competition, participated in the discussions and already at the early stage of voting began to discuss the possible implementation of ideas.

    The project of 3rd year student of the State University of Management Dmitry Trofimov took third place in solving a case from Avito on attracting subscribers to the company’s social networks using a digital project.

    “I suggested creating a clicker game based on Telegram and came up with a bright character for the brand – the parrot Otiv. The application provided a system of motivation, bonuses and internal competitions aimed at engaging and retaining players. In addition to the game, an outreach strategy was thought out. The jury appreciated the boldness of the approach and creativity, and also noted that Otiv has every right to become a full-fledged Avito mascot,” Dmitry shared.

    We congratulate our student on his award and wish him inspiration, new ideas and further success!

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Prime Minister Carney meets with Prime Minister of Estonia Kristen Michal

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, met with the Prime Minister of Estonia, Kristen Michal, on the margins of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit in The Hague, the Netherlands.

    The prime ministers underscored the strong and dynamic relationship between Canada and Estonia. They discussed opportunities to strengthen shared priorities – including in commerce, defence, and energy – and to bolster co-operation on critical minerals.

    The two leaders underscored their steadfast support for Ukraine and agreed on the imperative of achieving a just and lasting peace.

    Prime Minister Carney outlined Canada’s plan to rebuild, rearm, and reinvest in the Canadian Armed Forces – meeting the NATO 2 per cent target this year and accelerating defence investments in the years ahead.

    Prime Minister Carney and Prime Minister Michal agreed to remain in close contact.

    Associated Link

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCSD to hold Sport For All Day 2025 and invite public to join

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCSD to hold Sport For All Day 2025 and invite public to join

    To promote “Sport for All”, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will hold the Sport For All Day (SFAD) 2025 on August 3 (Sunday). The public is welcome to join. The LCSD promotes “Stay Active, Healthy and Happy!” encouraging people of different ages and abilities to participate in regular sports and physical activities. With Hong Kong cohosting the 15th National Games (NG), the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities (NGD) and the 9th National Special Olympic Games (NSOG) with the Guangdong Province and the Macao Special Administrative Region for the first time, SFAD 2025’s theme, “Coalescing together for the National Games”, echoes these national sports events together with members of the public. On August 3, the LCSD will open a number of leisure facilities for public use free of charge, including indoor badminton courts, volleyball courts, basketball courts, squash courts, table tennis tables, fitness rooms, activity rooms, dance rooms, etc; outdoor tennis courts, bowling greens, archery ranges, golf facilities, etc; and public swimming pools and water sports centres (craft hiring). On the same day (from 2pm to 6pm), a series of free recreation and sports programmes promoting the items of the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG (such as golf, fencing, rugby sevens and triathlon) will be conducted at designated sports centres across the 18 districts. Activities will cover fitness items, health talks, sports demonstrations and a fun day for families, children, 25/06/2025, 11:04 LCSD to hold Sport For All Day 2025 and invite public to join https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202506/25/P2025062400251p.htm#:~:text=LCSD to hold Sport For All Day 2025 and invite public to join&text=To promot… 1/2 youngsters, the elderly and persons with disabilities. The arrangements for booking leisure facilities and distributing free activity coupons will be announced in midJuly. To further promote “Sport for All” in the community, the LCSD continues to collaborate with the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC), and is joining hands with the China Hong Kong Paralympic Committee (HKPC) to launch various activities at the SFAD 2025 prime venue. Many organisations will also open up their facilities or roll out recreation and sports programmes on August 3 for the public free of charge. The latest SFAD 2025 information will be provided on the dedicated website (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/sfad). SFAD 2025 is co-organised by the SF&OC, the HKPC, Department of Health, the Sports Medicine Team of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Sports Medicine and Health Science Alumni Association of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and the Physical Fitness Association of Hong Kong, China. Ends/Wednesday, June 25, 2025 Issued at HKT 11:05 NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Special traffic and transport arrangements for Kai Tak Sports Park concerts on June 27 to 29

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Special traffic and transport arrangements for Kai Tak Sports Park concerts on June 27 to 29

    The Transport Department (TD) today (June 25) said that, to facilitate the holding of concerts at the Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP) on the evenings of June 27 to 29, special traffic and transport arrangements will be implemented to provide convenience for spectators to travel to and from the KTSP. Concertgoers from the Mainland are urged to purchase tickets in advance, plan their journeys early and use the MTR or cross-boundary coach services. During the event period, as the traffic in the vicinity of the KTSP is expected to be heavy, concertgoers should opt for public transport, avoid driving or taking private cars (including cross-boundary private cars). The TD has co-ordinated with local and cross-boundary public transport operators to strengthen their services during dispersal. The MTR will enhance the interval between trains of the Tuen Ma Line (TML). Franchised bus companies will provide a total of 11 special bus routes at the Sung Wong Toi Road Pick-up/Drop-off Area (PUDOA) to Lok Ma Chau (San Tin) Public Transport Interchange (PTI), the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) Hong Kong Port and Airport, and major districts across the territory. In addition, the KTSP will arrange cross-boundary coach services during dispersal to facilitate travellers’ return to the Mainland via the Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang (LMC/HG) Port, the HZMB and the Shenzhen Bay Port. Passengers should purchase tickets in advance. On-site ticket 25/06/2025, 11:06 Special traffic and transport arrangements for Kai Tak Sports Park concerts on June 27 to 29 https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202506/25/P2025062400590p.htm 1/3 sales will not be available during dispersal. They should refer to the operators’ website (Eternal East Bus: www.myeebus.com/eebusfans; CTG Bus: m.hkctgbus.com/#/layout/home) for the latest ticket information. For taxi services, the Kai Tak Stadium Taxi PUDOA will be open for taxi pick-up and drop-off. The Sung Wong Toi Road PUDOA will be open for taxi drop-off only during admission (4pm to 7pm) and suspended from taxi pick-up/drop-off during dispersal. The expected waiting time will be longer amid an outflux of spectators and passengers’ patience is appreciated. Concertgoers who plan to return to the Mainland on the same day after the concert should pay special attention that, if they use the Lo Wu Control Point, they should catch the last relevant MTR TML train departing from Sung Wong Toi Station at 10.59pm and Kai Tak Station at 11.01pm, followed by interchanging at Tai Wai Station on the East Rail Line (ERL) to Lo Wu Station. Travellers should plan their journeys ahead and arrive at the station platform in advance. Travellers who opt for LMC/HG Port (operating 24 hours daily) may also take the ERL to Sheung Shui Station and then KMB route No. 276B or N73, or take the special bus route No. SP12 directly at the Sung Wong Toi Road PUDOA to the Lok Ma Chau (San Tin) PTI, and transfer to the LMC-HG crossboundary shuttle bus (Yellow Bus) for their journey to the Mainland. A spokesman for the TD said that, as a large number of travellers may use the LMC/HG Port after the concert, and concerts will also be held at AsiaWorld-Expo on the evening of June 28, the Port is expected to be very busy. Travellers’ patience is appreciated. To ensure the smooth operation 25/06/2025, 11:06 Special traffic and transport arrangements for Kai Tak Sports Park concerts on June 27 to 29 https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202506/25/P2025062400590p.htm 2/3 of public transport services, dedicated public transport lanes will be arranged at the LMC/HG Port after midnight during the event period when necessary for the smooth operation of the Yellow Bus and crossboundary coach services as well as effective dispersal of a large number of crossboundary travellers. Other cross-boundary private cars and their passengers are expected to have a longer clearance time. The TD has steered operators to reserve standby vehicles and manpower to meet passengers’ demand. Spectators are advised to heed the real-time information via the on-site broadcast and the “Easy Leave” platform (easyleave.police.gov.hk) as well as the latest traffic news through the TD’s website (www.td.gov.hk), the “HKeMobility” mobile application and radio and television broadcasts. Ends/Wednesday, June 25, 2025 Issued at HKT 10:00 NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ7: Safety of building works

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ7: Safety of building works 
    Question:
     
    The Buildings Ordinance (Cap. 123) regulates building contractors registered under the Ordinance (registered contractors) to ensure the safety of building works. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) given that under section 13(1) of Cap. 123, the Buildings Department (BD) can refer convicted cases involving building works by registered contractors to the Registered Contractors’ Disciplinary Board (Disciplinary Board) for its consideration of taking disciplinary actions against the contractors, of the number of convicted cases, which involved injuries and deaths at the sites of the building works, referred by the BD to the Disciplinary Board for follow-‍up in each of the past 10 years and this year to date; among such referral cases, of the following information on each of those cases where disciplinary proceedings were completed: (i) the date of incident, (ii) the nature of incident, (iii) the number of injuries and/or deaths involved, (iv) the name of the contractor involved, (v) the type of registration of the contractor involved, (vi) the date on which the court handed down its judgment, (vii) the penalties imposed by the court, (viii) the date on which the BD commenced examination of the case, (ix) the date on which the BD referred the case to the Disciplinary Board, (x) the date on which the Disciplinary Board commenced a hearing of disciplinary proceedings, (xi) the date on which the Disciplinary Board made its determination, and (xii) the penalties imposed by the Disciplinary Board (if applicable);
     
    (2) given that the Government has established a referral mechanism for the Hong Kong Housing Authority and the Development Bureau to refer cases of registered contractors with poor performance in public sector projects to the BD for disciplinary actions, of the number of referral cases received by the BD in each of the past 10 years and this year to date, and among such cases, the number of those involving poor performance in construction safety;
     
    (3) in respect of the referral cases involving poor performance in construction safety mentioned in (2), of the criteria based on which the BD considers whether or not to take disciplinary actions against the contractors involved, and whether any indicator is set on the time required for handling such cases; the number of cases in which disciplinary actions were required upon the BD’s consideration in each of the past 10 years and this year to date, as well as the longest, shortest and average time taken from the BD’s receipt of such case referrals to its official commencement of disciplinary proceedings;
     
    (4) given that the BD can institute criminal prosecutions against registered contractors for offences relating to building works under Cap. 123, of the number of cases in which the BD instituted prosecutions against registered contractors involving injuries and deaths at the sites of the building works in each of the past 10 years and this year to date; among such prosecution cases, the following information on each of the convicted cases: (i) the date of the incident, (ii) the nature of the incident, (iii) the number of injuries and/or deaths involved, (iv) the name of the contractor involved, (v) the type of registration of the contractor involved, (vi) the date on which the BD commenced its investigation, (vii) the date on which the BD instituted prosecution, (viii) ‍the date on which the court handed down its judgment, (ix) the penalties imposed by the court, (x) whether the authorities have lodged appeals against the penalties imposed, and (xi) the penalties imposed by the court following the appeal (if applicable);
     
    (5) given that in the reply to a question raised by a Member of this Council on November 15, 2023, the Government indicated that the authorities would review Cap. 123 to study the feasibility of undertaking prosecution and disciplinary actions in parallel against registered contractors involving in building works safety incidents, of the progress and outcome of the relevant study;
     
    (6) as there are views that the practice of submitting supplementary information repeatedly by some contractors when applying for renewal of registration is suspected to be delaying the vetting and approval process, which may enable contractors with poor performance in construction safety to continue to carry out works during the vetting and approval process and hence pose risks to the occupational safety and health of frontline workers, whether the Government will consider reviewing and enhancing the relevant application procedures for renewal of registration, so as to enhance the processing efficiency; and
     
    (7) given that the authorities indicated in the paper submitted to this Council in December last year that they would amend Cap. 123 to enhance building safety by, among others, enhancing the registration and disciplinary systems for registered contractors, etc, with the target of introducing the relevant bill into this Council in the first half of next year, whether the authorities will explore expediting the relevant legislative amendment work?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
    The Government attaches great importance to the safety and quality of building works. In so far as private development projects are concerned, the Buildings Department (BD), by virtue of the Buildings Ordinance (BO) (Cap. 123), requires the registered building professionals (RBPs) (including Authorized Persons (APs), registered structural engineers (RSEs), registered geotechnical engineers (RGEs), etc) and the registered contractors (RCs) responsible for building works to properly supervise the building works in accordance with the respective supervision plans prepared by them and submitted to the BD under the Code of Practice for Site Supervision 2009, so as to ensure that the works comply with the BO. In addition to complying with the BO itself and its subsidiary regulations, the building works should also comply with the approved plans of the works concerned, as well as any conditions imposed or orders made by the BD under the BO. When the RBP and RC apply for the Occupation Permit (OP), they should certify that the new building has been completed in accordance with the provisions of the BO and its regulations and the plans approved, and ensure that the building is in compliance with regulations and structurally safe.
     
    The BD adopts a three-pronged approach in regulating RCs who are found to have irregularities or misconduct, including: (i) instigating prosecutions against the RCs concerned; (ii) conducting disciplinary proceedings; and (iii) re-assessment of the ability and competence of the RCs concerned during renewal applications to determine whether to accept the relevant renewal applications.
     
    The replies to the various parts of the question are as follows:
     
    (1) If any RBPs or RCs have been negligent or have misconducted themselves in their professions or in any building works, the case will be referred to the relevant disciplinary board for conducting disciplinary proceedings. In the past 10 years up to May this year, there were five completed disciplinary cases involving injuries and fatalities out of a total of 33 cases referred by the BD to the Registered Contractors’ Disciplinary Board for disciplinary action in respect of the RCs prosecuted and convicted in building works. Details of the cases are set out in Annex I.
     
    (2) and (3) The Works Branch of the Development Bureau (DEVB), the BD and the Housing Department (HD) established a referral mechanism in 2002 with an aim to target very serious breaches of contract or offences by RCs registered under the BO in the course of carrying out Government public works or public housing projects. While the RCs have been penalised under the contract or prosecuted and convicted under the law, the Works Branch of the DEVB or the HD still considers it necessary to refer the cases to the BD for the disciplinary board’s consideration of further disciplinary action after inquiries. This shows that the referral mechanism targets very serious cases, where the RCs concerned have to be referred to the BD’s disciplinary board for follow-up action having regard to the fact that the punitive actions taken under the contract or the law have not been sufficient to penalise the RCs concerned. Very serious breaches of contract or offences include blatant or repeated disregard of the contractor’s duties where the consequence of the breach is very serious so as to warrant the imposition of different levels of sanctions, or the RCs are considered after investigation to have obviously permitted or connived at the breach. The threshold for referral is very high. As for ordinary breaches of contract or offences by contractors, such as poor performance and misconduct, the Works Branch of the DEVB and the HD would handle in accordance with the contract, legislation and other established regulatory mechanisms. In the past 10 years, there was no case meeting the threshold for referral to the BD under public works or public housing projects.
     
    (4) According to section 40(2B) of the BO, if the BD, after investigation, finds that building works have been carried out in such a manner as to cause or likely to cause injury to any person or damage to any property, the BD may institute prosecution against the persons directly concerned with the works (including RCs, RSEs, RGEs, APs, etc). In the past 10 years and up to May this year, there were six convicted cases involving injuries and fatalities upon completion of prosecution out of a total of 139 cases instituted by the BD under section 40(2B) of the BO in relation to building works. Details of the cases are set out in Annex II.
     
    (5) and (7) The Government has completed the systematic review of the BO. Proposals were put forth to amend the BO in December 2024 and a two-month public consultation was conducted. The proposals to enhance the registration and disciplinary systems are set out below:
     
    (i) regarding the processing of renewal applications by RCs, we propose to extend the renewal period from the current three years to a maximum of five years in response to the industry’s aspiration for a longer operation period to encourage long-term investment and healthy development of the industry. On the other hand, we propose to empower the Building Authority (BA) to approve a shorter renewal period than the current three years in order to strengthen monitoring of certain contractors. We also propose that the BA can be empowered to impose conditions (e.g. requiring a more stringent site supervision regime) upon registration renewal having regard to the contractor’s individual circumstances to enhance the existing registration system;
     
    (ii) on the handling of disciplinary cases, we propose to increase the number of members of the relevant disciplinary board panel to expedite the formation of disciplinary board and inquiry. We also propose to increase the maximum fine for disciplinary sanction from $250,000 to $400,000, and to allow the disciplinary board to impose more than one sanction for each charge (in addition to a fine, consideration may also be given to ordering a reprimand and/or removing the contractor from the register at the same time) so as to enhance the deterrent effect; and
     
    (iii) during the systematic review of the BO, the BD has examined the feasibility of undertaking prosecution and disciplinary actions in parallel. After due consideration and consulting legal advice, it is considered that this may affect criminal investigation or prosecution, including the possibility of obstructing relevant persons from assisting in criminal investigation. Therefore, it is considered not appropriate to undertake prosecution and disciplinary actions in parallel. Notwithstanding this, the BD has taken steps to shorten the procedure of referral, with an aim to refer the case to the Department of Justice within four months after case conviction details are received, so that the disciplinary proceedings can commence as soon as possible.
     
    The public consultation was completed in February 2025. The Government is now reviewing the specific proposals taking into account views received, as well as working on the drafting of the amendments to the BO. The drafting involves careful review of and amendments to the BO and its subsidiary legislation, and it is necessary to take time to clarify certain legal issues. We will complete the drafting work as early as practicable, targeting to introduce the amendment bill into the Legislative Council in the first half of 2026.
     
    (6) The BD conducts review of the contractors’ registration system from time to time, with a view to enhancing and streamlining the relevant procedures. After consulting the industry, the BD has implemented a series of streamlining measures for processing registration and renewal applications since April this year, including requiring contractors to submit the necessary supplementary information within 28 days after the BD’s issuance of a letter requesting for supplementary information. Otherwise, their applications would be rejected. This measure intends to prevent unnecessary delay and enhance the efficiency of the BD’s processing of registration applications.
    Issued at HKT 17:45

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SFST looks for more co-operation opportunities with AIIB member states at its 10th Annual Meeting of Board of Governors in Beijing (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    SFST looks for more co-operation opportunities with AIIB member states at its 10th Annual Meeting of Board of Governors in Beijing  
         Speaking at the side event on “Implementing the International Financial Reporting Standards – Sustainability Disclosure Standards (ISSB Standards) from the Ground Up: The AIIB Journey”, Mr Hui noted that while the AIIB is one of the first multilateral development banks to adopt the ISSB Standards, Hong Kong was also confirmed by the International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation earlier this month as among the initial set of jurisdictions having set a target of fully adopting the ISSB Standards.
     
         He said, “By aligning with a global standard, we ensure international comparability of our data. This not only boosts investor confidence but also creates a strong foundation for new opportunities. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will continue to work in collaboration with financial regulators and stakeholders to support the pragmatic implementation of the ISSB Standards through enhancing capacity building and promoting the use of technological solutions.”
     
         This afternoon, Mr Hui also spoke on “Fostering Development and Infrastructure Connectivity” at the Governors’ Business Roundtable. He shared with delegations from other member states Hong Kong’s efforts in fostering development in sustainable finance as well as developing diverse and innovative financial products. The latter includes the roll-out of the Infrastructure Bond Programme and the issuance of infrastructure loan-backed securities by the Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation Limited (HKMC) with the AIIB as an anchor investor. He told the delegations that a third issuance by the HKMC can be expected this year.
     
         At the AIIB President’s Reception and the Special Session of the Board of Governors’ meeting held yesterday (June 24), Mr Hui met with the President of the AIIB, Mr Jin Liqun, and the President-elect of the AIIB, Ms Zou Jiayi. He also met financial officials of other member states to update them on Hong Kong’s latest developments in green and sustainable finance, and the recent vibrant financial market situation.
     
         In addition, Mr Hui held bilateral meetings separately with delegations from Egypt, Germany and Poland on the sidelines of the Annual Meeting to explore opportunities for further co-operation.
     
         During his stay in Beijing, Mr Hui met with the President of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Mr Liu Jun, and the Chief Financial Officer of the China Construction Bank, Mr Sheng Liurong. He will return to Hong Kong tonight.
    Issued at HKT 17:41

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: HKMC Annual Report 2024

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    HKMC Annual Report 2024

    The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

    The Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation Limited (HKMC) today (June 25) published its Annual Report for 2024. The Report mainly reviews the business performance, financial position, as well as the environmental, social and governance initiatives of the HKMC in 2024.

    The Report is now available on the HKMC website (www.hkmc.com.hk).

    Ends/Wednesday, June 25, 2025
    Issued at HKT 16:00

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ2: Capacity Building Mileage Programme

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Following is a question by Professor the Hon Chow Man-kong and a reply by the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, in the Legislative Council today (June 25):

    Question:

    There are views that the Government should optimise the Capacity Building Mileage Programme (CBMP) to enhance women’s personal development skills and competitiveness. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

    (1) of the numbers of persons enrolling in CBMP courses and the amounts of bursary approved in each of the past three years, together with a breakdown by the five learning domains (i.e. Personal Development, Health and Care, Applied Science and Technology, Wisdom of Life, and Arts and Culture);

    (2) as it was stated at the meeting of the Panel on Home Affairs, Culture and Sports of this Council on May 28 last year that the Women’s Commission would explore and study how to keep CBMP abreast of the times and benefit more women, of the concrete progress and proposed direction of the relevant work at present; and

    (3) whether it will consider exploring with the organisers of CBMP courses to refine the curriculum by incorporating more knowledge in areas such as e-commerce, community services, and public relations, and consolidating related courses for inclusion into the Qualifications Register, as well as providing more flexible funding arrangements, with a view to elevating women’s workplace skills and overall competitiveness; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

    Reply:

    President,

    The Capacity Building Mileage Programme (CBMP) was launched by the Women’s Commission (WoC) in 2004 with the aim of encouraging women of different backgrounds and education levels to pursue self-development and lifelong learning by offering courses under different domains.

    My consolidated reply, in consultation with the Education Bureau, to the question raised by Professor the Hon Chow Man-kong is as follows:

    (1) In the past three programme years (i.e. 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2023/24), the number of participants of the CBMP were approximately 4 000, 5 000, and 6 000 respectively. The amounts of bursary approved in each of the three programme years were approximately $120,000, $140,000 and $260,000 respectively. Detailed figures are at Annex.

    Regarding the five learning domains, since participants could enrol in more than one course within the same programme year, we are unable to provide the number of participants and the approved bursary amounts for each learning domain. In this regard, the breakdown of enrolment by the five learning domains of CBMP (i.e., Personal Development, Health and Care, Applied Science and Technology, Wisdom of Life and Arts and Culture) over the past 3 programme years are at Annex.

    (2) & (3) The Government attaches great importance to women’s contribution to the community and the work of supporting women. Through various initiatives, we aim to empower women and help them to excel in different arenas, including the workplace.

    At its inception, the CBMP was designed, in respond to the societal learning and employment landscape at that time, to enable women to enhance their personal capabilities by enroling in various types of courses during their spare time. The CBMP has been implemented for over 20 years and several developments have emerged across society, economy, workplace, education, technology, etc, such as artificial intelligence and mobile payments. As such, the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) and the WoC launched the Women Empowerment Fund (WEF) in June 2023. With an annual funding of $20 million, WEF subsidises women’s groups and non-governmental organisations for implementing projects that promote women’s development. To date, the WEF approved over 280 projects, involving over $43 million in funding and engaging more than 170 organisations. Apart from courses, projects funded under WEF also include workshops, placement opportunities and community serving projects. This allows the funded organisations to flexibly utilise the funding and implement suitable activities based on social needs for women from different backgrounds and social strata. Since its establishment, the WEF has also supported projects related to workplace skills, e-commerce and communication skills. These include, for example, training programmes on job seeking skills for women looking for employment, courses on digital marketing and personal image enhancement. The WEF also runs the Programme on Women’s Participation in Community Services, which encourages women to plan and implement community service projects based on actual societal needs, such as preparing soft meals for the elderly, visiting residential care homes for persons with disabilities, and organising day camps for children with special educational needs, thereby promoting community care and inclusion.

    On the other hand, to promote women’s workplace development, we also launched the “She Inspires” Mentorship Programme this year. Under the programme, local female university students who aspire to pursue a career in the professional or business sectors will be matched with women leader mentors, and provided with relevant training and activities to help young women enhance their workplace skills and prepare them for entering the workforce, thereby improving women’s overall competitiveness in the long term.

    To better utilise government resources in promoting women’s development and training, the HYAB and the WoC are reviewing the future direction of the CBMP and related arrangements. This is to ensure the effective use of the Government’s financial resources and keep up with the times in promoting women’s development in all aspects. During the review, our principle is to maintain the usage of the existing resources while enhancing the synergy between various projects and societal sectors. We will announce the review results in due course.

    Qualifications Framework (QF) is a clear and well-defined seven-level hierarchy that serves to define clear and objective standards applicable to qualifications in the academic, vocational and professional as well as continuing education sectors; assure the quality of qualifications and the associated learning programmes available to learners; and assure relevancy of learning to industry needs. The Qualifications Register (QR) under the QF is a free-of-charge, open, centralised online database of quality assured qualifications recognised under the QF to facilitate the public search of the relevant qualifications. The Government welcomes course providers to register their accredited courses or qualifications on the QR in accordance with the Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications Ordinance (Cap. 592) and related quality assurance mechanism. Currently, there are 17 courses under the CBMP listed at Level 2 of the QF.

    The HYAB will continue to review various measures aimed at women’s development and, through collaboration with different stakeholders, flexibly utilise resources to continue promoting women’s development in all aspects.

    Ends/Wednesday, June 25, 2025
    Issued at HKT 15:00

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Geographical constituency boundaries for 2025 Legislative Council General Election

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Geographical constituency boundaries for 2025 Legislative Council General Election

    The Chief Executive in Council has accepted all the recommendations of the Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC) regarding the boundaries and the names of geographical constituencies (GCs) for the eighth-term Legislative Council (LegCo) general election in 2025.

    A Government spokesman said today (June 25) that the decision of the Chief Executive in Council would be effected by way of the Declaration of Geographical Constituencies (Legislative Council) Order 2025, which will be published in the Gazette on Friday (June 27) and tabled at the LegCo on July 2 for negative vetting.

    The report of the EAC, submitted to the Chief Executive on June 13, was tabled at the LegCo today as required by law.

    The EAC recommended, with the exception to include the Loop in the only contiguous New Territories North (LC7) GC, to maintain the boundaries of the nine remaining GCs, and to retain the existing names and codes of the 10 GCs. The 10 GCs are Hong Kong Island East (LC1), Hong Kong Island West (LC2), Kowloon East (LC3), Kowloon West (LC4), Kowloon Central (LC5), New Territories South East (LC6), New Territories North (LC7), New Territories North West (LC8), New Territories South West (LC9), and New Territories North East (LC10).

    The EAC conducted a public consultation on its provisional recommendations on the GC boundaries from May 2 to 31 this year.

    “Before making its final recommendations, the EAC has given careful consideration to all the representations received. The EAC also examined the content of the representations having regard to the relevant statutory requirements and working principles,” the spokesman said.

    The EAC report is available for public viewing at the Home Affairs Enquiry Centres of all District Offices, the Registration and Electoral Office, and major and district public libraries during ordinary business hours starting from today. The content of the report can also be viewed on the EAC’s website (www.eac.hk).

    Ends/Wednesday, June 25, 2025
    Issued at HKT 14:30

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ17: Tackling very hot weather

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Following is a question by the Hon Lee Chun-keung and a written reply by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, in the Legislative Council today (June 25): Question: It has been reported that the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) recorded a high temperature of 35.6 degrees Celsius early this month, and according to HKO data, the average annual total number of very hot days observed since 2021 has exceeded 50, the highest figure since records began. Moreover, a study has predicted that extreme heat will occur more frequently in Hong Kong. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council: (1) of the number of days on which various temporary night heat shelters (heat shelters) under the Home Affairs Department were open and the average number of occupants per night in the past year; whether the authorities have plans to open more heat shelters to meet public demand for sheltering from heat under very hot weather conditions; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; (2) as there are calls in the community urging the authorities to introduce additional heat relief measures for those living in various forms of inadequate housing, including subdivided units, cage homes and rooftop structures, whether the authorities have considered providing airconditioning subsidies and free cooling facilities (e.g. mist fans) to such households; if so, of the details; if not, 25/06/2025, 11:02 LCQ17: Tackling very hot weather https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202506/25/P2025062500358p.htm 1/4 the reasons for that; (3) whether it will study the use of brand new cooling technologies and renewable energy, drawing on foreign cities’ research experience and practices in cooling, so as to tackle the problem of very hot urban weather; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and (4) given that in the reply to a question from a Member of this Council on June 6, 2018, the Government indicated that it would introduce green design in government buildings, of the details of the introduction of green design in government buildings in the past three years (including whether it has used building materials that enable green cooling and how such designs have mitigated the urban heat island effect)? Reply: President, In consultation with the Development Bureau and the Home Affairs Department, the reply to the question raised by the Hon Lee Chun-keung is as follows: (1) From June to October 2024, the 19 temporary heat shelters under the Home Affairs Department were opened for 70 days, of which overnight service was provided on 66 nights. The average number of registered users per night across all shelters was 9. Based on the current usage, the existing arrangement of temporary heat shelters is sufficient to meet the demand. The Home Affairs Department will continue to monitor the service provision. (2) According to the Scheme of Control Agreements, CLP Power Hong Kong Limited (CLP) and the Hongkong Electric Company 25/06/2025, 11:02 LCQ17: Tackling very hot weather https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202506/25/P2025062500358p.htm 2/4 Limited (HEC) (collectively referred to as the power companies) have offered discounts in the electricity bills to low consumption customers and customers in need under their energy saving rebate and concession tariff schemes to encourage energy saving and reduce the tariff expense of the relevant customers. In addition, the two companies have, through programmes under the respective Community Energy Saving Fund and Smart Power Care Fund, been assisting the disadvantaged, including the provision of cash subsidies to eligible grassroots families and household of sub-divided units. For instance, CLP allocated $50 million in 2025 to provide subsidies for the electricity bills of 70 000 grassroots families, while HEC allocated $1.2 million to provide subsidies for 1 200 household of sub-divided units over the same period. CLP also launched the Inverter Air Conditioner Replacement Subsidy Scheme, which involve the allocation of $5 million subsidies for elderly persons, low-income families and persons with disabilities to replace their window-type air conditioners with inverter air conditioner with Grade 1 energy label. It is estimated that around 1 200 families will benefit from the scheme. The Government will continue to encourage the power companies to provide assistance for customers in need having regard to the companies’ operating situations. (3) To promote the application of new cooling technology the Government collaborated with local universities for the trial application of Passive Radiative Cooling Paint (PRCP) to reduce solar heat gain and control temperature increase. PRCP uses nanomaterial technology to reflect incoming solar radiation and emit thermal radiation simultaneously, achieving effective cooling even under direct sunlight. The Government leads by example and 25/06/2025, 11:02 LCQ17: Tackling very hot weather https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202506/25/P2025062500358p.htm 3/4 encourages the private sector to jointly participate in promoting renewable energy. Some of the renewable energy systems could supply electricity required to buildings and, at the same time, provide a shading layer on the rooftop to help reduce the amount of heat absorbed by and released from the rooftop and hence the energy consumption of buildings. The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department is implementing the Pilot Scheme on Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) (the Pilot Scheme) at its headquarters. The objective is to assess the effectiveness and feasibility of BIPV from various aspects based on relevant data collected under the Pilot Scheme, such as the actual power generation efficiency and reduction in indoor energy consumption, etc. (4) The Government has been leading by example and has implemented a target-based green performance framework for the new and existing government buildings since 2009. We aim to attain a “Gold” rating or above under “BEAM Plus” for new government buildings with a construction floor area of more than 5 000 square metres in order to enhance the environmental objectives and requirements. Over 600 government buildings have already attained BEAM Plus Gold or above rating to date. The Government has also commenced the application of green cooling building materials, for example, the above-mentioned PRCP has been applied to the roof of Hong Kong Coliseum to lower the surface temperature of the roof. The Government will continue to explore new green building materials and innovations to combat extreme heat. Ends/Wednesday, June 25, 2025 Issued at HKT 14:15 NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Press release – Cohesion: responding to new challenges, but focus still needed on regional inequalities

    Source: European Parliament

    The Regional Development Committee adopted its position on proposals to introduce new priorities and flexibilities to the current EU cohesion funding cycle.

    MEPs from the Regional Development Committee broadly endorse, in a report adopted on Wednesday with 26 votes in favour, 10 against, and 5 abstentions, a Commission proposal to adapt the EU’s cohesion policy priorities in the period 2021–2027 while introducing some targeted changes to ensure that the main cohesion policy principles remain in place.


    New priorities and flexibilities

    MEPs backed the proposed introduction of new objectives that would be eligible for cohesion funds, namely defence industrial capabilities and military mobility, water resilience, affordable housing, decarbonisation, and energy infrastructure. They also agreed to channel some of the funds into EU competitiveness, particularly to the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP), and to extra support for EU regions bordering Russia, Belarus and Ukraine.

    MEPs also supported more favourable funding conditions, including the possibility of 100% co-financing, 30% pre-financing and a further pay-off of 9.5% of the total funding for reallocations to the new priorities in 2026 if at least 15% of funds are reallocated to them. MEPs propose lowering this threshold to 10%.


    MEPs call for preparedness investments

    In their amendments, MEPs want to prioritise dual-use infrastructure (suitable for civilian and military use) when funding the defence industry and military mobility. On water management, they want to broaden the scope of support to include integrated water management (for example, irrigation and desalination). MEPs also want to make housing sustainability a priority, and allow funds to go to the protection of critical energy infrastructure and civil preparedness infrastructure.

    To ensure cohesion policy’s focus on reducing inter-regional inequalities is maintained, MEPs want to update the rules such that only less developed and transition regions can access the new funding for defence and decarbonisation. They also changed a provision that would allow support to go to larger companies to specify that this can only happen when the companies commit to local employment. MEPs added a measure ensuring the consent of local and regional authorities is still needed for the transferring of already-planned territorial development funds to other purposes.

    MEPs emphasise that the new flexibilities cannot be applied to cohesion funding frozen under the EU’s conditionality regulation for violations of EU values or the rule of law.


    Quote

    After the vote, rapporteur and Committee Chair Dragoș Benea (S&D, Romania) said: “Parliament is stepping up to deliver concrete answers to citizens living in border regions, to families struggling to find affordable housing, and to communities facing the challenges of the green transition. By adapting the rules of cohesion policy to today’s emerging priorities, without undermining the core mission of territorial solidarity, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring no region and no European citizen is left behind.”


    Next steps

    Negotiations with the Council were authorised with 31 in favour, 9 against, and 1 abstention. They will be announced during Parliament’s July 7-11 plenary session, and if there are no objections, they can proceed.


    Background

    The Commission’s proposal would amend the European Regional Development Fund, Cohesion Fund and Just Transition Fund. The Commission estimates that it will lead to €16.1bn in additional pre-financing paid out in 2026. The proposal does not introduce new resources, so these funds are front-loaded from subsequent years.

    In parallel, the Employment and Social Affairs Committee is discussing similar proposals in the context of the European Social Fund +.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Press release – Cohesion: responding to new challenges, but focus still needed on regional inequalities

    Source: European Parliament

    The Regional Development Committee adopted its position on proposals to introduce new priorities and flexibilities to the current EU cohesion funding cycle.

    MEPs from the Regional Development Committee broadly endorse, in a report adopted on Wednesday with 26 votes in favour, 10 against, and 5 abstentions, a Commission proposal to adapt the EU’s cohesion policy priorities in the period 2021–2027 while introducing some targeted changes to ensure that the main cohesion policy principles remain in place.


    New priorities and flexibilities

    MEPs backed the proposed introduction of new objectives that would be eligible for cohesion funds, namely defence industrial capabilities and military mobility, water resilience, affordable housing, decarbonisation, and energy infrastructure. They also agreed to channel some of the funds into EU competitiveness, particularly to the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP), and to extra support for EU regions bordering Russia, Belarus and Ukraine.

    MEPs also supported more favourable funding conditions, including the possibility of 100% co-financing, 30% pre-financing and a further pay-off of 9.5% of the total funding for reallocations to the new priorities in 2026 if at least 15% of funds are reallocated to them. MEPs propose lowering this threshold to 10%.


    MEPs call for preparedness investments

    In their amendments, MEPs want to prioritise dual-use infrastructure (suitable for civilian and military use) when funding the defence industry and military mobility. On water management, they want to broaden the scope of support to include integrated water management (for example, irrigation and desalination). MEPs also want to make housing sustainability a priority, and allow funds to go to the protection of critical energy infrastructure and civil preparedness infrastructure.

    To ensure cohesion policy’s focus on reducing inter-regional inequalities is maintained, MEPs want to update the rules such that only less developed and transition regions can access the new funding for defence and decarbonisation. They also changed a provision that would allow support to go to larger companies to specify that this can only happen when the companies commit to local employment. MEPs added a measure ensuring the consent of local and regional authorities is still needed for the transferring of already-planned territorial development funds to other purposes.

    MEPs emphasise that the new flexibilities cannot be applied to cohesion funding frozen under the EU’s conditionality regulation for violations of EU values or the rule of law.


    Quote

    After the vote, rapporteur and Committee Chair Dragoș Benea (S&D, Romania) said: “Parliament is stepping up to deliver concrete answers to citizens living in border regions, to families struggling to find affordable housing, and to communities facing the challenges of the green transition. By adapting the rules of cohesion policy to today’s emerging priorities, without undermining the core mission of territorial solidarity, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring no region and no European citizen is left behind.”


    Next steps

    Negotiations with the Council were authorised with 31 in favour, 9 against, and 1 abstention. They will be announced during Parliament’s July 7-11 plenary session, and if there are no objections, they can proceed.


    Background

    The Commission’s proposal would amend the European Regional Development Fund, Cohesion Fund and Just Transition Fund. The Commission estimates that it will lead to €16.1bn in additional pre-financing paid out in 2026. The proposal does not introduce new resources, so these funds are front-loaded from subsequent years.

    In parallel, the Employment and Social Affairs Committee is discussing similar proposals in the context of the European Social Fund +.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Who decides on aid to Moldova? – E-002284/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002284/2025/rev.1
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Auke Zijlstra (PfE)

    On 5 June, Moldpress, the Moldovan Government’s official news agency, published an article quoting the Romanian chair of the EP delegation to the EU-Moldova Parliamentary Association Committee: ‘We will stand by the Republic of Moldova, just as they have stood by us. We will defend together the European path of the Republic of Moldova and Romania’s European path.’ In addition, the article states: ‘The official assured that our country will continue to receive support in the European integration process.’[1]

    In light of the above:

    • 1.Does the Commission also consider the European future of Romania and Moldova to be inextricably linked? How does this view fit with both historical and recent (political) developments in the two countries and their relations?
    • 2.What is the Commission’s take on the second statement above? This statement appears to be at odds with the nature of the facility for Moldova, which is based on conditional support.
    • 3.Can the Commission confirm that the decision on whether to grant financial assistance to Moldova indeed lies with the Commission?

    Submitted: 5.6.2025

    • [1] https://www.moldpres.md/eng/politics/mep-the-republic-of-moldova-will-receive-300-million-euros-pre-financing-from-the-growth-plan-shortly.
    Last updated: 25 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Who decides on aid to Moldova? – E-002284/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002284/2025/rev.1
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Auke Zijlstra (PfE)

    On 5 June, Moldpress, the Moldovan Government’s official news agency, published an article quoting the Romanian chair of the EP delegation to the EU-Moldova Parliamentary Association Committee: ‘We will stand by the Republic of Moldova, just as they have stood by us. We will defend together the European path of the Republic of Moldova and Romania’s European path.’ In addition, the article states: ‘The official assured that our country will continue to receive support in the European integration process.’[1]

    In light of the above:

    • 1.Does the Commission also consider the European future of Romania and Moldova to be inextricably linked? How does this view fit with both historical and recent (political) developments in the two countries and their relations?
    • 2.What is the Commission’s take on the second statement above? This statement appears to be at odds with the nature of the facility for Moldova, which is based on conditional support.
    • 3.Can the Commission confirm that the decision on whether to grant financial assistance to Moldova indeed lies with the Commission?

    Submitted: 5.6.2025

    • [1] https://www.moldpres.md/eng/politics/mep-the-republic-of-moldova-will-receive-300-million-euros-pre-financing-from-the-growth-plan-shortly.
    Last updated: 25 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Economic Outlook Quarterly: Fragmented trade, untapped potential at home – 25-06-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    The EU’s trade-dependent economy faces uncertainty from global trade policy shifts, prompting calls to strengthen domestic demand. Economic growth forecasts for the years ahead have been downgraded, reflecting this uncertainty. Anticipatory trade to avoid US tariffs peaked in March 2025, as EU exports to the US rose by 59 % in the first quarter of 2025, but has subsided since. The final phase of the Next Generation EU recovery instrument is expected to support public investment and economic activity, but EU countries must step up efforts – in some cases significantly – to ensure full implementation of their national recovery and resilience plans by 31 August 2026.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Economic Outlook Quarterly: Fragmented trade, untapped potential at home – 25-06-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    The EU’s trade-dependent economy faces uncertainty from global trade policy shifts, prompting calls to strengthen domestic demand. Economic growth forecasts for the years ahead have been downgraded, reflecting this uncertainty. Anticipatory trade to avoid US tariffs peaked in March 2025, as EU exports to the US rose by 59 % in the first quarter of 2025, but has subsided since. The final phase of the Next Generation EU recovery instrument is expected to support public investment and economic activity, but EU countries must step up efforts – in some cases significantly – to ensure full implementation of their national recovery and resilience plans by 31 August 2026.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Commission Recommendation for a Council Recommendation for the Netherlands budget and the economic risks of housing taxation – E-002277/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002277/2025/rev.1
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Auke Zijlstra (PfE)

    According to the Commission Recommendation of 4 June 2025 for a Council Recommendation on the economic, social, employment, structural and budgetary policies of the Netherlands, the Netherlands income tax system treats certain assets differently from others, which affects the distribution of capital and distorts economic decisions. The recommendations state that assets in the form of housing receive preferential treatment, which stimulates demand in the market for owner-occupied housing, but reduces the disposable income of households[1].

    This then exposes households to greater economic risk during economic shocks as disposable income is placed under pressure by high mortgage repayments during the mortgagor’s years of active employment.

    However, a recent European Parliament study found that, after Belgium, the Netherlands has the second lowest exposure to interest rate changes in the EU. Only 15 % of Dutch households have variable mortgage rates, which means that Dutch households are actually better armed against economic shocks and sudden increases in interest rates[2].

    • 1.Why did the Commission not take into account the stabilising factor of the high proportion of fixed-rate mortgages in the Netherlands in its assessment of economic risk?
    • 2.Does the Commission agree that, in times of economic downturn, owner-occupied housing is the best ‘store of value’ for families with average incomes, as opposed to share portfolios, for example?

    Submitted: 5.6.2025

    • [1] COM(2025)0219, recital 21.
    • [2] BERG, Tobias and HASELMANN, Rainer, Assessing real estate risks and vulnerabilities: Hidden cracks in the financial system?, Economic Governance and EMU Scrutiny Unit (EGOV) Directorate-General for Economy, Transformation and Industry, PE 764.351 – April 2025, p. 14.
    Last updated: 25 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Commission Recommendation for a Council Recommendation for the Netherlands budget and the economic risks of housing taxation – E-002277/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002277/2025/rev.1
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Auke Zijlstra (PfE)

    According to the Commission Recommendation of 4 June 2025 for a Council Recommendation on the economic, social, employment, structural and budgetary policies of the Netherlands, the Netherlands income tax system treats certain assets differently from others, which affects the distribution of capital and distorts economic decisions. The recommendations state that assets in the form of housing receive preferential treatment, which stimulates demand in the market for owner-occupied housing, but reduces the disposable income of households[1].

    This then exposes households to greater economic risk during economic shocks as disposable income is placed under pressure by high mortgage repayments during the mortgagor’s years of active employment.

    However, a recent European Parliament study found that, after Belgium, the Netherlands has the second lowest exposure to interest rate changes in the EU. Only 15 % of Dutch households have variable mortgage rates, which means that Dutch households are actually better armed against economic shocks and sudden increases in interest rates[2].

    • 1.Why did the Commission not take into account the stabilising factor of the high proportion of fixed-rate mortgages in the Netherlands in its assessment of economic risk?
    • 2.Does the Commission agree that, in times of economic downturn, owner-occupied housing is the best ‘store of value’ for families with average incomes, as opposed to share portfolios, for example?

    Submitted: 5.6.2025

    • [1] COM(2025)0219, recital 21.
    • [2] BERG, Tobias and HASELMANN, Rainer, Assessing real estate risks and vulnerabilities: Hidden cracks in the financial system?, Economic Governance and EMU Scrutiny Unit (EGOV) Directorate-General for Economy, Transformation and Industry, PE 764.351 – April 2025, p. 14.
    Last updated: 25 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – State of Play: EU support to Ukraine – 25-06-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    In response to Russia’s full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine, which started in February 2022, the European Union (EU) and its Member States have provided unprecedented financial, military and humanitarian support to Ukraine. According to European Commission figures, Team Europe, consisting of the EU and its Member States, has made available around €150 billion in support to Ukraine. This support encompasses macro-financial assistance, financial support through the Ukraine Facility, humanitarian aid and military assistance from Member States and the European Peace Facility, as well as support to Ukrainian refugees in the EU. The overall support of Team Europe for Ukraine is now greater than the support provided by the United States (US), except in terms of military support allocation. However, Team Europe has provided 83 % of the tanks and 76 % of the air defence systems given to Ukraine since the start of the full-scale war. The disbursement of EU payments under the Ukraine Facility is conditional on Ukraine implementing the Ukraine Plan – an ambitious reform and investment plan drafted by Ukraine’s government and endorsed by the EU. The Commission and the Ukrainian government publish updates on the progress of the reforms and on the disbursal of payments. In addition to the Ukraine Facility, the G7 have agreed upon a further €45 billion loan, with €18.1 billion to be financed by the EU. For this purpose, a Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism has been established, which uses extraordinary revenues originating from Russian sovereign assets immobilised in the G7 member states to repay loans and associated interest costs. The rights, responsibilities and obligations provided for under the Ukraine Facility will apply to the G7 loan to ensure seamless management of both. The European Parliament has repeatedly called for confiscating the immobilised Russian sovereign assets to finance further support for Ukraine and the country’s reconstruction, instead of just relying on extraordinary revenues. International financial institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund, play a key role in addressing external financing needs and supporting the country’s macroeconomic stability.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – State of Play: EU support to Ukraine – 25-06-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    In response to Russia’s full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine, which started in February 2022, the European Union (EU) and its Member States have provided unprecedented financial, military and humanitarian support to Ukraine. According to European Commission figures, Team Europe, consisting of the EU and its Member States, has made available around €150 billion in support to Ukraine. This support encompasses macro-financial assistance, financial support through the Ukraine Facility, humanitarian aid and military assistance from Member States and the European Peace Facility, as well as support to Ukrainian refugees in the EU. The overall support of Team Europe for Ukraine is now greater than the support provided by the United States (US), except in terms of military support allocation. However, Team Europe has provided 83 % of the tanks and 76 % of the air defence systems given to Ukraine since the start of the full-scale war. The disbursement of EU payments under the Ukraine Facility is conditional on Ukraine implementing the Ukraine Plan – an ambitious reform and investment plan drafted by Ukraine’s government and endorsed by the EU. The Commission and the Ukrainian government publish updates on the progress of the reforms and on the disbursal of payments. In addition to the Ukraine Facility, the G7 have agreed upon a further €45 billion loan, with €18.1 billion to be financed by the EU. For this purpose, a Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism has been established, which uses extraordinary revenues originating from Russian sovereign assets immobilised in the G7 member states to repay loans and associated interest costs. The rights, responsibilities and obligations provided for under the Ukraine Facility will apply to the G7 loan to ensure seamless management of both. The European Parliament has repeatedly called for confiscating the immobilised Russian sovereign assets to finance further support for Ukraine and the country’s reconstruction, instead of just relying on extraordinary revenues. International financial institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund, play a key role in addressing external financing needs and supporting the country’s macroeconomic stability.

    MIL OSI Europe News –