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Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ9: Urban renewal

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Following is a question by Dr the Hon Starry Lee and a written reply by the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, in the Legislative Council today (March 19):
        
    Question:
     
    It is learnt that recently, under the influence of various factors such as high interest rates, uncertainties in the global economy and adjustments in the local property market, private developers’ wish to participate in urban renewal has significantly diminished, resulting in impediment to the progress of a number of redevelopment projects, including the “13 Streets” and “5 Streets” projects in To Kwa Wan. There are views that the Urban Renewal Authority (URA), as the primary organisation to drive urban renewal, must ensure that its redevelopment work will not be stalled by changes in the economic environment, so as to avoid any impact on the pressing demand of residents of dilapidated buildings for improvement in their living conditions. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council if it knows:
     
    (1) whether the URA has assessed the specific impact of the current weak property market on urban renewal projects, including details of the delayed projects and the number of residents affected; 

    (2) whether the URA will actively consider fully unleashing the development potential of land in old districts by means of establishment of street consolidation areas, cross-district transfer of plot ratios, greater planning flexibility or introduction of other innovative approaches; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;  
    President,
     
    In consultation with the Urban Renewal Authority (URA), my reply to the various parts of the question is as follows:
     
    (1) Under the Urban Renewal Authority Ordinance (Cap. 563), the URA is required to exercise due care and diligence in handling its finances, thereby maintaining a sound and healthy financial position in the long run. Given its business nature, the URA’s annual financial position will be affected by the fluctuations in the property market and the progress of commenced projects. To cope with the challenges posed by the economic environment and property market situations on sustaining urban renewal, the URA will adopt a dynamic management approach to review, from time to time, the commenced and/or to be commenced redevelopment projects. It will also appropriately adjust the planning and the pace of implementation of different projects in the light of market situations and building conditions, so as to strike a balance between maintaining its financial stability, effectively promoting the regeneration of old districts and addressing the expectations of the local community in its mission to carry out urban renewal in a sustainable and orderly manner.
     
    Meanwhile, the Development Bureau (DEVB) will continue to provide various forms of financial support to the URA, and will work with the URA and relevant departments for the wider application of innovative planning tools to enhance the commercial viability of redevelopment. The DEVB will also enable the URA to take forward redevelopment projects in a sustainable manner through policy measures, the details of which are set out below:
     
    (2) and (3) In recent years, the URA has started to apply the new planning tools proposed in its District Study for Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok (YMDS) (Note) in suitable redevelopment projects. For example, the URA has adopted a more flexible interchangeable domestic/non-domestic plot ratio for the Shantung Street/Thistle Street Development Scheme in Mong Kok to be tendered this month by relaxing the maximum residential plot ratio from 7.5 to 8.5 without exceeding the current permitted gross floor area, so as to increase the flexibility in planning and to attract the participation of private developers. Separately, the Sai Yee Street/Flower Market Road Development Scheme in Mong Kok announced by the URA in March 2024 will, through the transfer of plot ratio, consolidate and transfer the redevelopment potential of several small, scattered sites to a larger site for mixed development to enhance planning gains and commercial viability of the project. With the Government’s support, the URA has introduced the “single site, multiple use” model to consolidate different government and community services in the same building to provide convenience to the public, release government land and enhance development potential of redevelopment projects. The URA has also utilised the above new planning tools in other suitable projects, including the Nga Tsin Wai Road/Carpenter Road Development Scheme. In the district planning studies for Tsuen Wan and Sham Shui Po underway, the Government will explore with the URA the feasibility of other tools to expedite the pace of urban renewal.
     
    Self-developed residential projects are one of the development options. As the URA has to pay the construction costs for residential projects upfront, it has to take into account the resulting cash-flow pressure. Therefore, the URA’s redevelopment strategy will continue to primarily focus on joint venture with developers, leveraging market forces to carry out redevelopment through land tendering. To this end, the URA has piloted the Development Facilitation Services at the end of last year to gather developers’ views on relevant projects before commencing the tender process. This serves as a basis for refining the project parameters and tender terms, thereby enhancing developers’ interest and confidence in tendering.
     
    (4) As the URA is the Government’s important partner in urban renewal, the Government will ensure that the URA has adequate resources to fulfill its statutory mission as well as to carry out the tasks entrusted by the Government. Apart from the $10 billion capital injection upon the URA’s establishment, the Government has also provided additional funding in the form of land premium waivers for redevelopment projects of the URA, with the cumulative amount of land premium waived reaching $25.3 billion as of March 31, 2024. The Government will also continue to support the URA in suitable redevelopment projects to consolidate the “Government, Institution or Community” sites in the vicinity to reprovision and upgrade relevant facilities. This will increase the overall development potential of the redevelopment projects through releasing and granting government land to the URA, which is also a form of financial support rendered to the URA by the Government. Moreover, the Government approved in mid-2023 to uplift the borrowing limit of the URA from $6 billion to $25 billion to enable the URA to cope with the financing need arising from a number of large-scale redevelopment projects in the coming few years. If necessary, the Government will also consider rendering other forms of support as appropriate.
     
    Moreover, the Government has embarked on a policy study to explore the use of newly developed land to create more favourable conditions for future URA and private redevelopment projects in old districts, so as to facilitate sustainable urban renewal. Among other things, we will consider allocating land in new development areas (NDAs) for the construction of rehousing estates to provide decanting space for redevelopment of old districts. We will also study the feasibility of cross-district transfer of plot ratios, with the objective of transferring the residual plot ratios of redevelopment projects in old districts for use in NDAs, so as to incentivise market participation in redevelopment and transform densely-developed old districts at the same time, thereby thinning out the urban population and renewing old districts to make them more livable in the long run. Our target is to put forward preliminary proposals in the first half of 2025.
     
    Redevelopment of old districts cannot be taken up solely by the URA. Private market forces are also needed. The Land (Compulsory Sale for Redevelopment) (Amendment) Ordinance 2024 just implemented in December 2024 is one of the Government’s measures to encourage developers to participate in redevelopment by lowering the compulsory sale application thresholds and facilitating multiple adjoining-lot compulsory sale applications.
     
    Lastly, our urban renewal strategy is a dual-track approach of building rehabilitation and redevelopment. Regarding building rehabilitation, the Government launched a public consultation on the proposed amendments to the Buildings Ordinance (BO) (Cap. 123) in December 2024, and listened to the views of various sectors, including their suggestions on expediting building inspection and repair, during the consultation period ended in late February this year. The views collected so far generally support the Government’s carrot and stick approach (i.e. with both support and a punitive system) to urge owners to comply with the statutory orders and notices under the BO. The Government will take into account the views collated when finalising the proposals and proceed with the law drafting work to amend the BO with the target of introducing the amendment bill into the Legislative Council in the first half of 2026. Implementation of proposals on expediting building inspection and repair will help owners to better maintain their properties, thereby decelerating the building ageing process and slowing down the need for urban renewal.
     
    Note: The URA completed the YMDS in 2021, proposing recommendations and new planning tools such as transfer of plot ratio, permitting interchangeability of domestic/non-domestic plot ratio in the Yau Mong districts, and removing the plot ratio restriction of the commercial zone along Nathan Road.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Development of Fisheries in Odisha

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 19 MAR 2025 2:10PM by PIB Delhi

    The Department of Fisheries (DoF), Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying (MoFAH&D), Government of India is implementing the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) for a period of five years from 2020-21 to 2024-25 in all States and Union Territories including Odisha. The DoF, MoFAH&D, Government of India under PMMSY has approved the proposals received from the Government of Odisha at a cost of Rs.1264.23 Crore with central share of Rs.510.94 Crore during the last four years and in the current financial year. Out of this, Rs.271.17 crore of central share has been released to the Government of Odisha so far based on the utilization reports submitted by the State Government.

    The ‘National Policy on Marine Fisheries, 2017 notified by the Government of India, provides guiding principles of conservation and optimum utilization of fisheries resources for ensuring sustainability. The DoF, GoI is implementing fishing ban in India’s EEZ along the east and west coast during the major breeding season of the commercial fish species to ensure successful spawning and strong recruitment for sustaining the fisheries. On the east coast, including the coasts of Odisha, the fishing ban is implemented annually from April 15th to June 15th. The Government of Odisha, through the Orissa Marine Fisheries Regulation Act, 1981, also regulates fishing activities in the state’s territorial waters to support the sustainable management of fisheries along the Odisha coast. In addition, the Government of India has prohibited harmful fishing practices, such as pair or bull trawling, and the use of LED or artificial lights for fishing within the EEZ.

    The DoF, GoI has approved 38 units of cold storages and ice plants, 1125 units of fish marketing facilities including fish kiosks, live fish vending centers, insulated vehicles, refrigerated vehicles, three wheelers with ice box and motor cycles with ice box. Two state-of-the-art Wholesale Fish Markets having processing facilities are also approved at Balasore and Khorda districts of Odisha. Activities such as construction of new ponds for brackish water and fresh water aquaculture, recirculatory aquaculture system (RAS), biofloc and reservoir cage culture are also approved under the PMMSY to increase fish production and export from Odisha. Besides, the DoF, GoI has recently notified development of scampi production and processing cluster in Balasore, Bhadrak, and Mayurbhanj districts of Odisha.

    The DoF, GoI under PMMSY has approved proposals of the Government of Odisha for construction of fishing harbor at Astaranga, Puri at a cost of Rs.179.90 crore. Further, the proposal of Paradip Port Trust for modernization and up-gradation of the Paradip fishing harbor at a cost of Rs.108.91 crore has been approved by DoF, GoI with 100% central share under PMMSY.

    This information was given by Union Minister of State, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri George Kurian, in a written reply in Rajya Sabha on 19th March, 2025.

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Government to introduce Supplementary Medical Professions (Amendment) Bill 2025 into LegCo

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Government to introduce Supplementary Medical Professions (Amendment) Bill 2025 into LegCo 
    　　In recent years, supplementary medical professions have been playing increasingly important roles in the healthcare system, particularly in primary healthcare development. To recognise their professional status and promote cross-disciplinary collaboration, the Bill proposes to rename “supplementary medical professions” as “allied health professions”; remove obsolete restrictions while providing a legal framework to facilitate cross-disciplinary collaborations, include allowing patients to accept physiotherapy and occupational therapy services without a doctor’s referral under specified circumstances, and enable allied health professionals to accept referrals from Chinese medicine practitioners (CMPs). In addition, to further enhance the manpower resources of allied health professions, the Bill introduces a new pathway to admit qualified non-locally trained allied health professionals to practise in designated institutions in order to address the manpower shortage of specific allied health professions within the public healthcare system. The Bill also introduces continuing professional development (CPD) as a mandatory requirement for all allied health professionals, with a view to ensuring the overall professional standard of allied health professions. To promote the development of allied health professions, the Bill proposes to enhance the composition and structure of the Supplementary Medical Professions Council (to be renamed as the Allied Health Professions Council) (the Council) and its five constituent Boards to ensure better performance of their regulatory roles, and further enhancing representativeness and credibility. 
     
    Renaming “supplementary medical professions” as “allied health professions”
     
    Since the enactment of the Supplementary Medical Professions Ordinance (Cap. 359) (the Ordinance) in 1980, the term “supplementary medical professions” has been used for over 40 years. In view of the increasingly important and specialised roles played by these five professions under the Ordinance in Hong Kong’s healthcare system, the Bill will rename “supplementary medical professions” as “allied health professions” to reflect their important function and enhanced professional status within the healthcare system, particularly primary healthcare.
     
    Accepting physiotherapy and occupational therapy services without a doctor’s referral
     
    　　At present, physiotherapists (PTs) and occupational therapists (OTs) may only provide services to patients upon a doctor’s referral, except in emergency or other specified situations. To address the new challenges to the healthcare system posed by an ageing population and the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, the Government is committed to developing primary healthcare, encouraging members of the public to seek early medical intervention in the community for common illnesses. Allowing patients to access physiotherapy and occupational therapy direct under specified conditions for early treatment is one of the key elements.
     
    　　The healthcare sector generally agrees that, on the premise of ensuring patient safety and enhancing risk management, allowing patients to seek assistance directly from PTs and OTs can expand access to primary healthcare by members of the public, thereby achieving the goals of streamlining processes and reducing costs, and further promoting the development of primary healthcare. The Bill sets out three circumstances under which patients may seek physiotherapy and occupational therapy services directly without a doctor’s referral:
     
    (1) Clinical protocol or cross-disciplinary collaboration arrangement
     
    　　Citizens may seek services directly from PTs or OTs for health conditions covered by recognised clinical protocols. PTs and OTs must adhere to the recognised clinical protocols at all times, including timely referral of patients to doctors for diagnosis and treatment if specific “red-flag” symptoms are detected. Regarding cross-disciplinary collaboration arrangements, PTs and OTs registered under the future Primary Care Register will be allowed to provide direct services to patients under the arrangements of the Primary Healthcare Commission (PHC Commission). They must record the patient’s condition and, if necessary, notify the patient’s registered family doctor via the Electronic Health Record Sharing System (eHealth) to ensure that patients can receive timely follow-up treatment when needed.
     
    (2)  Diagnosis by a registered doctor or CMP within the past 12 months

    　　Patients may seek direct physiotherapy or occupational therapy services for health conditions diagnosed by a registered doctor or CMP within the past 12 months without obtaining a new referral letter each time. Patients must provide proof of the diagnosis. Apart from a referral letter, the proof can also be in the form of outpatient records, follow-up consultation records, or discharge summaries.
     
    (3) Emergency or other situations approved by the Council
     
    PTs and OTs may provide direct services to patients without a doctor’s referral in emergency or other situations (applicable to PTs and OTs) and community services (applicable to OTs) approved by the Council. The details of these designated situations will be set out in the two professional codes of practice issued by the Council.
     
    Allowing allied health professionals to accept referrals from CMPs
     
    Chinese medicine is an integral part of Hong Kong’s healthcare system, and the Government has long been committed to strengthening its role in primary healthcare, supporting the development of Chinese medicine and integrated Chinese-Western medicine services in secondary and tertiary healthcare, and encouraging the cross-disciplinary collaboration between healthcare professions. There are practical needs for CMPs to refer patients in accordance with clinical needs for other treatments and modern diagnostic technologies, which can improve clinical diagnostic accuracy and monitor treatment effectiveness, thereby further enhancing the quality of healthcare services.
     
    To further Chinese medicine as a constituent part of Hong Kong’s healthcare system, the Bill provides a legal framework for allied health professionals to accept referrals from CMPs under suitable conditions. The Chinese medicine profession and relevant allied health professions must reach a consensus on professional standards regarding knowledge, skills, professional competencies and conduct, in order to formulate implementation details and update the relevant codes of practice. In view of the practical clinical and operational needs of The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong (CMHHK), the Bill also allows relevant allied health professionals to accept referrals from CMPs within the hospital, supporting the hospital’s phased commencement of services from the end of this year.
     
    Admitting non-locally trained allied health professionals
     
    In view of the persistent manpower shortages in certain allied health professions within the public healthcare system, the Bill introduces a new limited registration pathway to admit qualified non-locally trained allied health professionals to practise in designated institutions within their specialised fields on the premise of not compromising professional standards. Applications will be subject to approval by the Council. These designated institutions include the Department of Health, the Hospital Authority, the PHC Commission, the CMHHK, and institutions offering allied health profession training programmes. The Council may impose conditions on an applicant’s practice to confine them to a specific scope of practice. Allied health professionals under limited registration will not be eligible for migration to full registration.
     
    Meanwhile, the Government also proposes a new temporary registration pathway to enable non-locally trained allied health professionals to come to Hong Kong for academic exchanges and clinical demonstrations. A temporary registration will be valid for no more than 14 days and is not renewable.
     
    Other amendments
     
    The Bill introduces CPD as a mandatory requirement for allied health professionals to maintain and enhance the overall professional standards of the allied health professions. It also amends the composition and structure of the Council and its five constituent Boards to better regulate the professions and promote cross-disciplinary collaboration. The Bill includes other technical amendments, such as extending the validity of the existing practising certificates to three years and adjusting various fees under the Ordinance. 
    Issued at HKT 16:45

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Inland fisheries promotion in Kerala

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 19 MAR 2025 2:07PM by PIB Delhi

    The Department of Fisheries, Government of India (DoF, GoI) through its schemes, policies and programs has been taking several initiatives towards holistic development of both marine and inland fisheries sector in all States and Union Territories including Kerala. Promotion of fish production and strengthening of fisheries value chain system have been the core of these initiatives.

    The DoF, GoI is implementing flagship scheme ‘Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana’ (PMMSY) in all the States and Union Territories of India including Kerala for a period of 5(five) years from FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25. The PMMSY inter-alia aims at harnessing of fisheries potential including inland fisheries in a sustainable manner, enhancing fish production and productivity through expansion, intensification, diversification and productive utilization of land and water, strengthening of value chain, doubling fishers and fish farmers incomes and generation of employment and also ensuring social & economic security for fishers and fish farmers.

    During last four years (2020-21 to 2023-24) and current financial year (2024-25) under PMMSY, the DoF, GoI has accorded approvals to the fisheries developmental proposals of Government of Kerala amounting Rs.1358.10 Crore.  The approved activities inter alia included inland fisheries development activities like assistance towards construction of freshwater finfish hatcheries (05 Nos), new rearing & grow-out ponds for fish culture (89 ha.), fish feed mills (05 Nos), ornamental fish rearing and breeding units (798 Nos), cage culture in reservoirs (750 Nos), high-tech culture systems like Re-circulatory Aquaculture System (646 Nos), Biofloc culture units (850 Nos), pen culture units (31 ha.), integrated development of reservoirs (07 Nos), boats and nets to traditional fishermen (200 Nos), extension and support services under ‘Matsya Seva Kendras’ (10 Nos).

    The approved activity also included cold chain and marketing activities like iceplants/cold storages (16 Nos), fish transportation vehicles (468 Nos), live fish vending centre (77 Nos), value added enterprises (10 Nos), fish retail markets (05 Nos), whole sale fish markets (02 Nos) and also referral lab and disease diagnostic labs (02 Nos) for timely disease diagnostics. Awareness campaigns and capacity building programs have been also taken up in Kerala through National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) in various areas of inland fisheries. Besides, the GoI has also extended facilities of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) to the fisheries and fish farmers from FY 2018-19 to meet their working capital requirement in all States/UTs including Kerala.

    Further, Government of Kerala has informed that under the State plan scheme, Janakeeya Matsya Krishi, includes different schemes like diversification of species & aquaculture practices, Kerala reservoir fisheries development programme for effective utilization of potential in reservoirs, ranching, establishment of fish/clam protected areas. It is also informed that hi-tech fish marts in various districts of Kerala are established through Matsyafed wherein the fresh fish are directly procured from fishers/farmers and supplied to consumers. It is further informed that due to changing food habits and enabling convenience, easy to cook/ready to eat kind of value added products like fish curry, fish cutlets, fish pickles are sold through Matsyafed in some districts.

    Government of Kerala has informed that due to these interventions from Centre and State the inland fish production has increased from 2.05 lakh tonnes in 2019-20 to 2.51 lakh tonnes in 2023-24.

    This information was given by Union Minister of State, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri George Kurian, in a written reply in Rajya Sabha on 19th March, 2025.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Fund for fisheries sector in Kerala

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 19 MAR 2025 2:06PM by PIB Delhi

    The Department of Fisheries, Government of India (DoF, GoI) through its schemes, policies and programs has been taking several initiatives towards holistic development of fisheries sector in all States/UTs including Kerala. The major initiatives include Blue Revolution Scheme implemented during 2015-16 to 2019-20, extending Kisan Credit Card (KCC) to fisheries (since 2018-19), creation of Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) (2018-19 to 2025-26) enabling concessional financing in fisheries, flagship scheme ‘Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana’ (PMMSY)’ (2020-21 to 2024-25). Enhancing fish production, strengthening of value chain, employment generation, ensuring safety & security of fisheries and ensuring sustainability of the resources have been the core of these initiatives.

    Under the flagship scheme ‘Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana’ (PMMSY) during last four years (2020-21 to 2023-24) and current financial year (2024-25)  the Department of Fisheries, GoI has accorded approval to the fisheries developmental proposals of Government of Kerala worth Rs.1358.10 Crore with central share of Rs. 574.90 Crore. Central funds of Rs.344.15 Crore has been also released to Kerala during this period.  

    The approved activities included support for fish production oriented activities like establishment of brood bank (01), hatcheries (09 Nos), rearing & grow of ponds (89 ha.), brackish water culture (172 ha.), establishment of ornamental rearing units (798 Nos), cage culture in reservoirs (750 Nos), Re-Circulatory Aquaculture System (RAS) (646 Nos), Biofloc units (850 Nos), integrated development of reservoirs (07 Nos), and deep sea fishing vessels (20 Nos). The approval also included support for infrastructure and cold chain activities including upgradation of fishing harbors (11 Nos), iceplants/cold storages (16 Nos), fish transportation vehicles (468 Nos), live fish vending centres (77 Nos), value added enterprises (10 Nos), fish retail markets (05 Nos), whole sale fish markets (02 Nos) and also referral lab and disease diagnostic labs (02 Nos) for timely disease diagnostics. Further, activities like pen culture in open water bodies (31 ha.), stocking of fish seeds (10 ha.), bivalve cultivation units (1140 Nos), boats & nets to traditional fishermen (200 Nos) are also approved under the PMMSY.

    In addition, under the PMMSY, Integrated Modern Coastal Fishing Villages (09 Nos), Climate Resilient Coastal Villages (06 Nos), Artificial Reefs (42 units), extension support services like Matsya Seva Kendras (10 Nos), Sagar Mitras (222 Nos) are also approved to Kerala. Besides livelihood and nutritional support to 1,79,316 fishers during fishing ban period are also approved to Kerala. Awareness campaigns and capacity building programs have also been taken up in Kerala through National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) in various areas of inland fisheries. Government of Kerala has informed that within the State Plan Scheme, the State has taken up initiatives towards aquaculture, diversification, increasing seed production, conservation & management of resources, regular patrolling, coaching programmes for fishermen students for higher education, interest free loans to fisher women, group insurance scheme including pension schemes.  

    There is no such special scheme announced exclusively for riverine fisheries. However, the schemes implemented by the Department of Fisheries, GoI already comprises of activities for development of riverine fisheries like pen culture, stocking of fish seeds, boats & nets to traditional fishermen, ranching programmes etc. In addition. Government of Kerala has informed that as part of riverine fisheries, embankment and pen culture activities in rivers, canals and other suitable water bodies are taken up. Under the State plan project regarding ‘Integrated Fishery Management in Inland Aquatic Ecosystem’ implemented since FY 2022 ranching of fish & shrimp seeds, establishment of fish/clam protected areas have also been implemented. The Government of Kerala has informed that during last five years, funds amounting to Rs.20.07 crore is allocated for the same wherein, Rs.8.54 crore has been disbursed and Rs.7.24 crore has been utilized.

    This information was given by Union Minister of State, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri George Kurian, in a written reply in Rajya Sabha on 19th March, 2025.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ18: Places for religious activities in Hong Kong

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ18: Places for religious activities in Hong Kong 
    Question:
     
    According to the Hong Kong Fact Sheets issued by the Government in October 2024, more than three million people in Hong Kong adhere to a religion. It is learnt that, from time to time, various religious bodies have a demand for places to conduct religious activities. However, in recent years, some religious bodies have encountered difficulties with the approval processes and procedures when applying for the construction of permanent places for religious activities. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) of the number of applications received from religious bodies of different religions for the construction of permanent places for religious activities in the past five years; among such applications, the respective numbers of those that have been approved, those that are pending approval and those that have been rejected, as well as the reasons for the rejection of those applications (set out in a table);
     
    (2) whether the Government currently has established approval mechanisms in place, including a dedicated land allocation system for religious purposes and a special land premium system for the conversion of land designated for non-religious uses into places for religious activities; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that and whether the Government will consider introducing specific and relevant mechanisms in the future;
     
    (3) whether the Government will provide assistance or financial support to religious bodies for the construction of permanent religious places; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
     
    (4) whether the Government will provide funding schemes to religious bodies for the construction of religious places, expedite the vetting and approval of applications in this regard, and assist religious bodies in carrying out renovation or enhancement works for new or existing religious places, so as to promote tourism activities and enable more members of the public to visit and tour such places; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

    Reply:
     
    President,
     
    In consultation with the Development Bureau (DEVB), I give the consolidated reply to the Hon Benson Luk’s question on behalf of the Government as follows:
     
    Hong Kong is an open and inclusive city in which religious freedom is the fundamental rights enjoyed by Hong Kong residents as protected by the Basic Law and other relevant legislation. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has been maintaining close liaison with religious groups and attends events organised by them with a view to promoting the communications with them and understanding their needs.

    The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) is responsible for liaising with local religious groups and plays a co-ordinating role in local religious affairs. While adhering to the principle of non-intervention of the freedom of religion and religious groups’ internal affairs, HYAB listens to the views of respective religious groups and, where necessary, renders assistance to them through appropriate channels. 
    Also, under the current land policy, if religious groups wish to develop religious facilities on Government land, they may apply to the Government by way of private treaty grant (PTG). When processing the relevant land grant applications, the LandsD would consult the relevant bureau(x)/department(s) with regard to the actual circumstances of the case, and seek the HYAB’s policy support. If the HYAB’s policy support can be secured for the project, there will be concessionary premium arrangement for the respective religious facilities. The HYAB does not provide any other financial support to religious groups for acquiring permanent religious facilities at present.
     
    As regards applications from religious groups to develop permanent religious facilities as mentioned in the question, the LandsD received a total of four PTG applications related to religious use in the past five years or so (three of which are solely for religious use, and the other application covers other facilities). So far, two applications have been withdrawn by the applicants while the remaining two are under processing. Separately, in the past five years the LandsD also approved two applications, both of which were received prior to 2021. The relevant information is set out in the table below:
     

    Year(as of March 2025)*The applications approved in a year do not necessarily correspond to the applications received in the same year.

    The relevant bureau(x)/department(s) will continue to expedite the processing of the applications. Meanwhile, the HYAB will continue to keep in touch with religious groups to render appropriate and practicable assistance. Regarding promoting tourism activities as mentioned in the question, it is stated in the Development Blueprint for Hong Kong’s Tourism Industry 2.0 promulgated in December 2024 that the Government will focus on diversified development of religious tourism to enrich Hong Kong’s tourism offerings, including engaging with religious groups to explore opening up religious venues as tourist attractions on a limited scale without affecting religious activities. The HYAB will assist in liaison with relevant religious groups to explore the feasible arrangements and actively collaborate with the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau’s work.
     
    Besides, to encourage the preservation of graded historic buildings, including religious premises, the Commissioner for Heritage’s Office of the DEVB launched the Financial Assistance for Maintenance Scheme on Built Heritage in 2008 to provide financial assistance to the owners of privately-owned graded historic buildings, as well as tenants, who are non-profit-making organisations, of Government-owned declared monuments and graded historic buildings for them to carry out minor maintenance works by themselves. Private owners of declared monuments may seek technical advice from the Antiquities and Monuments Office (AMO) or apply to the AMO for the AMO to carry out maintenance and repair works for their declared monuments, and the cost of which will be borne by the AMO.
    Issued at HKT 16:15

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Put nation first, remain united, discharge duties honestly & move fearlessly towards set goals: Raksha Mantri’s clarion call at Major Bob Khathing Memorial Event

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has called upon the people to always put the nation first, remain united, discharge the duties with honesty, and move fearlessly towards achieving their goals, which were the core principles of Major Bob Khathing, an extraordinary figure who made invaluable contributions to the North-East region and national security. Raksha Mantri was addressing the fifth edition of Major Bob Khathing Memorial Event jointly organised by the Indian Army, Assam Rifles and United Services Institution of India (USI) at Delhi Cantt on March 19, 2025 to honour the life and legacy of the legendary figure. 

    Paying glowing tributes to Major Bob Khathing, Shri Rajnath Singh asserted that India has been fortunate that it is home to such prominent personalities for whom security, integrity and sovereignty of the nation is paramount. He termed Major Khathing as a great son of India, who left an indelible mark in the history of the country through his bravery in the battlefield and skill in the field of diplomacy. It is the responsibility of the people to adopt the ideals and principles of such great personalities, he said. 

    Raksha Mantri commended Major Khathing’s role in integrating, developing and rebuilding not only Tawang but the entire North-East region. “Major Bob Khathing made a significant contribution in strengthening national unity. The work he carried out for the North-East is similar to what Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel did at the national level,” he said. 

    Raksha Mantri added that Major Bob Khathing efficiently carried out the integration of Tawang into India without firing a single bullet, and the Government, led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, follows the principles of such revolutionaries. “We completely merged Jammu and Kashmir into India by removing the biggest hurdle – Article 370 – without firing a single bullet. The work was carried out peacefully with full security, keeping all the stakeholders in mind,” he said. 

    Shri Rajnath Singh highlighted the administrative proficiency of Major Khathing, especially his contribution in the formation of Sashastra Seema Bal & Nagaland Armed Police and other such reforms. He emphasised that, on similar lines, the Government is focussing on administrative reforms. “Through ‘Minimum Government, Maximum Governance’ and ‘Good Governance’, we have reduced the gap between the people and the government. Through ‘Digital India’ and ‘Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, Mobile (JAM) Trinity’, today administration has become more people-oriented,” he said. 

    Raksha Mantri pointed out that the Government’s foreign policy is based on the diplomatic skills of personalities such as Major Khathing. “Today, India is maintaining a balance between its hard power and soft power amidst the prevailing uncertainties in the multipolar world. It is a matter of great pride that India has strengthened its global position. A new, strong and organised India has emerged before the world. There was a time when India was not taken seriously on international forums. But today, when we speak, the world listens. This is inspired by the ideals of Major Khathing,” he said. 

    Shri Rajnath Singh expressed satisfaction over the fact that India is touching greater heights due to the organisational skills imbibed from personalities like Major Khathing. He stressed on the need to remain organised for India to transform into Viksit Bharat by 2047. 

    Raksha Mantri had, in October 2024, virtually inaugurated Major Ralengnao ‘Bob’ Khathing ‘Museum of Valour’ in Tawang. He was scheduled to visit Tawang, but could not due to bad weather. He carried out the inauguration from 4 Corps Headquarters in Tezpur, Assam. Shri Rajnath Singh lauded the will and courage of the residents of the North-East region who continue to contribute to nation building despite living in challenging conditions. 

    Shri Rajnath Singh acknowledged the role of the North East in India’s development journey and voiced the Government’s commitment towards increasing the region’s contribution and its progress. “We have always given priority to the development of the region. Among the infrastructure projects is the Sela Tunnel built at a height of 13,000 feet connecting Tezpur in Assam to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh. In addition, the opening of the Arunachal frontier highway will play a big role in enhancing the connectivity of the entire North East region, especially border areas. This approximately 2,000 km long will act as a strategic and economic asset for India,” he said. 

    Raksha Mantri further stated that it is the result of the developmental projects launched by the Government that the North East is rapidly progressing on the path of development and violent incidents have reduced significantly. He referred to the list of ‘52 Places To Visit In 2025’ released by The New York Times, which has placed Assam on the fourth place. 

    During the event, Shri Rajnath Singh visited a specially curated photo gallery showcasing Major Bob Khathing’s remarkable achievements and enduring legacy. He also attended the screening of a film depicting the pivotal moments of Major Khathing’s life and service. 

    The event witnessed the presence of distinguished dignitaries, including Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Shri Pema Khandu, Member of Parliament Shri Alfred Kanngam Arthur, Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Director General Assam Rifles Lt Gen Vikas Lakhera and DG, USI Maj Gen BK Sharma (Retd). 

    A keynote address titled ‘Deciphering Implications of Major Bob Khathing’s Expedition to Tawang’ was delivered by former DG, Assam Rifles Lt Gen PC Nair (Retd). His address provided deep insights into the strategic ramifications of Major Khathing’s expedition and its lasting impact on national security. 

    Shri John Khathing, son of Major Bob Khathing, shared heartfelt reminiscences about his father’s remarkable life and legacy, adding a personal dimension to the commemoration. The event also featured vibrant cultural performances by troupes showcasing the rich and diverse heritage of North-East.

     ***

    VK/Savvy

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister congratulates Crew-9 Astronauts

    Source: Government of India

    Prime Minister congratulates Crew-9 Astronauts

    Sunita Williams and the Crew9 astronauts have once again shown us what perseverance truly means: PM

    Posted On: 19 MAR 2025 11:31AM by PIB Delhi

    The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has extended heartfelt congratulations to the Crew-9 astronauts, including Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams, as they safely returned to Earth. Shri Modi lauded Crew-9 astronauts’ courage, determination, and contribution to space exploration.

    Shri Modi said that Space exploration is about pushing the limits of human potential, daring to dream, and having the courage to turn those dreams into reality. Sunita Williams, a trailblazer and an icon, has exemplified this spirit throughout her career.

    In a message on X, the Prime Minister said;

    “Welcome back, #Crew9! The Earth missed you.

    Theirs has been a test of grit, courage and the boundless human spirit. Sunita Williams and the #Crew9 astronauts have once again shown us what perseverance truly means. Their unwavering determination in the face of the vast unknown will forever inspire millions.

    Space exploration is about pushing the limits of human potential, daring to dream, and having the courage to turn those dreams into reality. Sunita Williams, a trailblazer and an icon, has exemplified this spirit throughout her career.

    We are incredibly proud of all those who worked tirelessly to ensure their safe return. They have demonstrated what happens when precision meets passion and technology meets tenacity.

    @Astro_Suni

    @NASA”

    ****

    MJPS/ST

    (Release ID: 2112640) Visitor Counter : 30

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CE meets Secretary of CPC Jiangmen Municipal Committee (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    CE meets Secretary of CPC Jiangmen Municipal Committee (with photo) 
    Mr Lee welcomed Mr Chen and his delegation to Hong Kong. Noting Jiangmen is a hub and gateway city in the western part of the GBA, and that the city is experiencing rapid development in advanced manufacturing, Mr Lee said that Hong Kong, being an international city in the GBA, enjoys the unique advantages of having the strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world under the “one country, two systems” principle. There is vast potential for collaboration between the two places. Hong Kong will continue to give full play to its roles as a “super connector” and a “super value-adder”, leveraging its highly internationalised and market-oriented business environment with its pool of professional services talent to explore business opportunities with Mainland enterprises and inject new impetus into the high-quality development of the GBA.
     
    Mr Lee expressed his confidence that Hong Kong and Jiangmen will continue to complement each other’s strengths, enhancing co-operation in areas such as green industries, scientific research and elderly care services, and jointly building an international first-class bay area ideal for living, working and travelling.
    Issued at HKT 13:00

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ4: Kai Tak Sports Park

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ4: Kai Tak Sports Park 
    Question:
     
    It has been reported that at the Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP) Grand Opening Ceremony, some self-proclaimed “insiders” charged a fee of $1,000 per person to lead people without tickets to enter the venue “through the back door”, and they even claimed that there were ways to bring reporters to the scenes of other activities without tickets. Subsequently, at the World Snooker Grand Prix 2025 held in the KTSP, the word “curfew” appeared on the screen of the venue before the end of the competition, requesting the audience to leave the venue. Some foreign media reported the incident, and the foreign players in the venue also thought that Hong Kong had imposed a curfew. There are views that the incident has brought Hong Kong’s international image into disrepute. Moreover, it is learnt that a businessman lost his way when leaving the venue but did not receive any assistance from the staff. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) of the number of stress tests conducted by different government departments before the opening of the KTSP; the number of staff members involved, as well as the contents, objectives and public expenditure of each stress test;
     
    (2) whether it has examined why the aforesaid incidents of “passage without tickets”, “midnight curfew” and “nobody showing the way” still occurred after public money has been spent on stress tests; and
     
    (3) without incurring substantial public money, of the measures in place to ensure that the aforesaid mistakes will not recur when organising the concerts by the band Coldplay and major competitions such as the National Games in the future?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
    Being the largest sports infrastructure project in Hong Kong’s history, the Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP) will boost sports development and inject impetus into related industries such as recreation, entertainment and tourism, and mega-event economy. The KTSP provides Hong Kong with the largest and state-of-the-art venues, including a 50 000-seat Kai Tak Stadium, a 10 000-seat Kai Tak Arena and a 5 000-seat Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground.
     
    With its official commissioning on March 1, the KTSP becomes a new hub for hosting major sports and entertainment events, creating favourable conditions for further promoting the mega-event economy. A series of mega events have been scheduled to take place in the KTSP, including the Hong Kong Sevens at the end of this month, followed by concerts of renowned bands and singers in Asia and around the world at the Kai Tak stadium. Competition events of the 15th National Games, the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games will also be held in the KTSP towards the end of this year. Mega sports and entertainment events, one after another, will bring to the audience an exciting experience.
     
    My consolidated reply to the questions raised by the Hon Paul Tse is as follows:
     
    Since late October last year until February this year, the Government and the Kai Tak Sports Park Limited (the Operator) conducted almost 20 test events and stress tests of different nature and scale across the three major venues in a gradual and orderly approach, with a view to evaluating different operation and contingency arrangements of the KTSP to better prepare its official commissioning. Both sport and non-sport test events took place in the three major venues with particular objectives, allowing relevant departments, the Operator and all participating parties to familiarise themselves with the preparatory work of both the hardware and software of the Sports Park, such as entry and exit arrangements, transportation, stage setup and backstage facilities.
     
    In addition, to assess the maximum capacity of the KTSP and better understand the patterns of spectator flow after its full opening, the Government organised five large-scale stress tests involving civil servants, district personalities, youth groups, and stakeholders of the Operator, among which were two stress tests with 63 000 participants each and one with approximately 50 000 participants. The costs associated with these stress tests were covered by the construction cost of the KTSP, recurrent expenditure of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) and other participating departments and hence, cannot be quantified separately.
     
    The Operator is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the KTSP after its opening. It has the duty to oversee the security, optimise operational arrangement, as well as maintain close liaison and co-ordination with event organisers to ensure a pleasant experience for visitors. Both the Operator and event organiser attach high importance to security checks and ticket verification. With respect to earlier reports of suspected unauthorised entry to the venue without valid tickets, the Operator has retrieved its records and referred the case to law enforcement agency for follow-up. We note that signage within the precinct and training for front-line staff have been improving during the test events and stress tests over the past months, which will be further enhanced taking into account the needs of different events upon commissioning, so as to provide the most appropriate assistance to visitors.
     
    The World Snooker Grand Prix 2025 concluded recently was the first major sport event staged at the KTSP after its commissioning. It was also the first time that the event organiser hosted the event in Hong Kong. There was obviously room for improvement in terms of internal and external communication, as well as event co-ordination and arrangements between the Operator and the event organiser, with a notable example being the spectators were asked to leave before the match concluded on the first day. As I have said earlier in public, the incident was highly undesirable. Having reviewed the arrangements on the day, the Operator and the event organiser responded immediately and revised the match arrangements afterwards to accommodate the needs of the match and spectators. Subsequent matches were completed smoothly and successfully, with both spectators and players commending the arrangements of the venue.
     
    The CSTB attaches great importance to ensuring a good experience for visitors attending events at the KTSP. Being the party responsible for day-to-day operations, the Operator must put in place a sound response and contingency mechanism for handling emergency matters to ensure effective internal communication of accurate information, allowing the team (including front-line staff) to execute directives accordingly. External communication of official information should also be sufficient and timely to avoid confusion. The CSTB has expressed serious concerns to the Operator’s management of the Sports Park thus far and has directed the Operator to make prompt adjustments to its structure, including improvements to its mechanism in decision-making, communication and crisis management. The CSTB has also requested the Operator to provide further training to its staff on their sensitivity and arrangements for external communication, including assigning a dedicated spokesperson, so as to enhance public knowledge and build their confidence in the operation of the KTSP.
     
    As the KTSP has officially commenced its operation, the Operator must learn from every experience and strive to improve operations, as well as maintain close communication with all stakeholders to ensure an enjoyable experience for visitors. The CSTB will continue to monitor the performance of the Operator and maintain close liaison with both the Operator and relevant stakeholders to realise the opportunities presented by this world-class infrastructure in joint hands, with a view to unleashing the potential of the KTSP to promote the development of sports and mega-event economy.
    Issued at HKT 12:50

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ17: Handling of waste vehicle tyres

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ17: Handling of waste vehicle tyres 
    Question:
     
         According to the paper submitted by the Environment and Ecology Bureau to the Panel on Environmental Affairs of this Council in November 2023 (the paper), nearly 30 000 tonnes of waste vehicle tyres were generated in Hong Kong in 2021, of which 70 per cent were generally first cut and disposed of at landfills, and only some 20 per cent were retreaded and reused or recycled. It has been learnt that although waste vehicle tyres disposed of at landfills will be cut first, it still takes a long time for them to decompose, which also leads to the problem of landfills being exhausted. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) of the total weight of waste vehicle tyres generated in Hong Kong in each of the past three years, with a breakdown by the following methods for their disposal: (i) recovered and recycled locally, (ii) ‍recovered and exported after treatment, and (iii) disposed of at landfills;
     
    (2) of the weight of landfilled waste vehicle tyres that were handled by the Government in the past three years, and its percentage in the weight of all waste vehicle tyres disposed of at landfills; the reasons for not recovering and recycling such waste vehicle tyres;
     
    (3) Whether the Government has compiled statistics on the maximum handling capacity, actual handling capacity and remaining handling capacity of waste vehicle tyre recyclers in the market at present; if so, of the details; if not, whether it will compile such statistics;
     
    (4) Given that it has been learnt that in order to promote the local recycling industry, the Government had allocated 20 sites for lease to the industry by January 2024, of the details of such sites, including their location and size, the recycling projects involved, and the number of such sites used for handling waste vehicle tyres; and
     
    (5) Given that the paper proposes that landfills no longer accept and handle the disposal of waste vehicle tyres, when the proposal is expected to be formally implemented?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,

         About 20 000 tonnes of vehicle tyre waste are generated in Hong Kong every year, of which some are retreaded for reuse or recycled. Vehicle tyre waste can be processed to recover metals, cut and shredded into crumb rubber as raw materials for other products, or utilised as alternative fuel as a means of converting waste to energy.  
     
         The reply to the question raised by the Hon Frankie Yick is as follows:
     
    (1) Statistics on vehicle tyre waste generation by weight and handling method each year from 2021 to 2023 are tabulated below. The figures show that the proportion of vehicle tyre waste being recycled and retreaded for reuse is increasing year by year. Statistics for 2024 are still under compilation.
     

    Year(tonnes)(tonnes)(tonnes)(tonnes)Note 2: The sum of individual items may not equal to total due to rounding.
     
    (2) and (5) At present, tyres replaced during vehicle maintenance services undertaken by government departments are usually sent to contractors for retreading and reuse, or to recyclers for shredding and recycling. Vehicle tyre waste collected in public places by government departments and their outsourced service contractors is currently delivered to landfills for disposal. The relevant figures from 2021 to 2023 are tabulated below. Statistics of 2024 are still under compilation. 
     

    Year(tonnes)(Per cent)     The Government has been maintaining regular meetings with the tyre trade and disseminating information on recycling of vehicle tyre waste (such as contact information of collectors and recyclers) through relevant trade associations, tyre dealers, retailers as well as vehicle repair workshops, with a view to facilitating their recycling arrangement.
     
         Meanwhile the Government plans to introduce an amendment bill to the Legislative Council in the first half of 2025 to establish a common legislative framework for the producer responsibility schemes (PRSs). Upon the passage of the amendment bill by the Legislative Council, we will progressively cover more products under the PRSs, including vehicle tyres, in the light of prevailing circumstances. The Government shall implement the PRSs based on a market-led approach by which recycling service will be provided by the market, allowing the relevant stakeholders to jointly share the eco-responsibility. We will also set statutory recovery targets in order to ensure vehicle tyre waste are properly collected and treated, for the sake of enhancing the recycling rate of vehicle tyre waste as well as promoting the development of local circular economy.
     
         In addition, the amendment bill will amend the scope of waste control to accommodate the subsequent implementation of various PRSs. Upon the implementation of the PRS for vehicle tyres in future, designated waste disposal facilities (including landfills) will no longer accept and handle vehicle tyre waste, for the purpose of diverting them to recycling facilities for recycling.
     
    (3) Based on the Waste Recovery Survey conducted by the Environmental Protection Department, the maximum recycling capacity for vehicle tyre waste was around 25 000 tonnes while the actual recycling quantity was around 14 000 tonnes in 2023.
     
    (4) As of January 31, 2025, among the 20 short-term tenancy (STT) sites for exclusive bidding and use by the recycling industry, one of them is being used for the processing of tyre waste. Information on the 20 STT sites is set out at Annex.
    Issued at HKT 12:48

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ12: Non-governmental organisations’ acceptance of advantages from overseas organisations

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ12: Non-governmental organisations’ acceptance of advantages from overseas organisations 
    Question:
     
         It has been reported that the new-term United States Government has recently planned to substantially reduce the spending of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). It is learnt that USAID has been providing funding support for overseas non-governmental organisations (NGOs) on a long-term basis, and assisting such NGOs in carrying out work that endangers the national security of the place where the NGOs are based, such as exporting Western values, performing infiltration and sabotage, and inciting riots. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) whether the Government currently has a mechanism in place to verify if local NGOs have accepted advantages from overseas organisations (such as USAID and the National Endowment for Democracy of the United States); if it has, of the details;
     
    (2) whether it has assessed if the acceptance of financial contributions from overseas organisations by NGOs in Hong Kong violates the Hong Kong National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance; and
     
    (3) whether the Government will consider establishing a mechanism to regulate the acceptance of financial contributions from overseas organisations by NGOs in Hong Kong, and regularly review if the financial contributions accepted by NGOs pose risks to national security?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
         The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has all along been steadfast in safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests, fully and faithfully upholding the highest principle of “one country, two systems”, while protecting the legal interests, rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents and other people in Hong Kong in accordance with the law. It will resolutely safeguard the overall interest of the community and the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, ensuring the steadfast and successful implementation of “one country, two systems”.
     
         With the promulgation of the Hong Kong National Security Law (HKNSL) on June 30, 2020 and the commencement upon gazettal of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO) on March 23, 2024, the legal system and enforcement mechanisms of the HKSAR for safeguarding national security have been improved. The HKNSL and the SNSO are compatible and complementary, building a strong line of defence to safeguard national security in the HKSAR, ensuring the effective protection of national security, and enabling the HKSAR to make good use of the relevant laws to effectively prevent, suppress and punish acts and activities endangering national security in accordance with the law.
     
         As a cosmopolitan city and an international financial centre, Hong Kong welcomes exchanges between local institutions, organisations and individuals and those from all parts of the world, as well as foreign institutions or organisations to set up offices and establish operations in Hong Kong. On the other hand, given the increasingly complicated geopolitical situation, the HKSAR faces ever-changing risks to national security. External forces, anti-China and destabilising individuals are waiting for opportunities to make malicious attacks and smears. The HKSAR Government will definitely take all necessary countermeasures to safeguard national security if any of them uses improper means to carry out acts of foreign interference in violation of the principle of non-intervention under international law, in an attempt to undermine the stability and prosperity of the HKSAR, posing national security risks.
     
         My reply to the three parts of the question is as follows:
     
         Various measures have been put in place under the legal system of the HKSAR for safeguarding national security to prevent external forces from interfering in the normal operation of the HKSAR, and to prevent external forces from unlawfully interfering in the affairs of our country or of the HKSAR through agents or agent organisations, thus undermining the sovereignty and political independence of our country, and endangering national security.
     
         In particular, Division 1 of Part 6 of the SNSO provides for offences relating to external interference endangering national security. Under section 52 of the SNSO, a person (including any organisation) who, with intent to bring about an interference effect, collaborates with an external force to do an act and uses improper means when so doing the act commits an offence of “external interference endangering national security”. The elements of this offence are clearly defined in sections 53 to 55. “Bringing about interference effect” covers influencing the executive authorities, the legislature and the judiciary in performing functions, interfering with an election, prejudicing the relationship between the Central Authorities and the HKSAR, the relationship between the HKSAR and any foreign country, etc. “Collaborating with external force” covers the circumstance that a person does the act with the financial contributions, or the support by other means, of an external force. “Using improper means” covers the making of a material misrepresentation, the commission of acts of violence or acts constituting criminal offences, etc.
     
         In addition, Division 2 of Part 6 of the SNSO has improved the mechanism originally provided for in the Societies Ordinance for prohibiting organisations endangering national security from operating in the HKSAR. Under section 60, if the Secretary for Security reasonably believes that it is necessary for safeguarding national security to prohibit the operation or continued operation of an organisation, or if a local organisation is a political body and has a connection with a political organisation of an external place (including the acceptance of financial contributions or substantive support by other means from a political organisation of an external place), the Secretary for Security may prohibit the operation or continued operation of the organisation in the HKSAR. In addition, the mechanism for prohibiting organisations endangering national security from operating in the HKSAR also applies to any organisation which is established outside the HKSAR but is related to the HKSAR. For example, a person in the HKSAR conducts activities in the HKSAR under the control, supervision or direction of that organisation; or that organisation provides financial contributions, or aid of other kinds to any person in the HKSAR.
     
         The HKSAR Government has all along been committed to resolutely, fully and faithfully implementing the HKNSL, the SNSO, and other laws of the HKSAR relating to safeguarding national security, with a view to effectively preventing, suppressing and punishing acts and activities endangering national security in accordance with the law. If any individual or organisation is suspected of committing an offence endangering national security, the law enforcement agencies will take decisive actions to enforce the law and pursue their legal liabilities in accordance with the law, and will not allow them to evade justice. The HKSAR Government’s actions to safeguard national security have all along been taken in strict accordance with the statutory procedures and relevant laws.
     
         Safeguarding national security is a top priority for the HKSAR and the most important task of the HKSAR Government. Details of relevant efforts of the HKSAR is information about the work on safeguarding national security and therefore cannot be disclosed.
    Issued at HKT 12:05

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ19: Crackdown on black taxis in rural and tourist areas

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is a question by the Hon Vincent Cheng and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (March 19):

    Question:

         It has been reported that there are black taxis in quite a number of rural and tourist areas (e.g. Sai Kung and the Peak), and the unlawful acts of the drivers concerned (including overcharging, cherry-picking passengers, refusing hire and failing to take the most direct route) have seriously affected tourists’ experience and Hong Kong’s reputation as a “hospitable city”. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

    (1) of the number of complaints received by the authorities since the implementation of the Taxi-Driver-Offence Points system involving unlawful acts of black-taxi drivers in rural and tourist areas and, among them, the number of taxi drivers with points incurred; the respective offences in which those taxi drivers with points incurred are involved and the penalties imposed on them;

    (2) whether the authorities have stepped up law enforcement against black taxis in rural areas over the past three years; if so, of the details (including the number of law enforcement operations, the number of drivers arrested in each of such law enforcement operations, the reasons for their arrests, the number of drivers prosecuted and convicted, as well as the relevant penalties imposed); if not, the reasons for that;

    (3) as some tourists have indicated that they are not clear about how to lodge complaints against law-offending taxi drivers, whether the authorities will step up publicity and education, such as by providing tourists with clear information, including taxi fares and channels for lodging complaints, at the entrances and exits of the airport, various boundary control points and major rural tourist spots; and

    (4) as there are views pointing out that the problem of black taxis stems from the inadequacy of ancillary public transport facilities in rural and tourist areas (e.g. in the vicinity of High Island Reservoir in Sai Kung), whether the authorities have considered improving the public transport services in such areas, such as increasing the frequency of green minibus services, thereby combating black taxi operations in the market and tying in with the development of eco-tourism?

    Reply:

    President,

         After consulting the Security Bureau and the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), our reply to the Hon Vincent Cheng’s question is as follows:

    The Government has earlier reviewed the overall taxi operation and management, and put forward a series of measures to enhance taxi services. Such measures include introducing a Taxi-Driver-Offence Points (TDOP) system and a two-tier penalty system for certain taxi-driver-related offences, in order to combat taxi drivers’ illegal acts and strengthen the deterrent effect against repeat offenders. The relevant legislative provisions were passed by the Legislative Council and are in effect.

    In addition, with a view to enhancing taxi services, the Government proposes to mandate the installation of in-vehicle cameras, dash cameras and global navigation satellite systems in all taxi compartments. Installation of such devices can help caution the few black sheep in the taxi industry against violating the law, and facilitate the follow-up actions and investigations on suspected malpractices (e.g. overcharging, driving to a destination other than by the most direct practicable route, etc) by the Police or the Transport Department (TD), thus better protecting the rights of the passengers. We have consulted the Panel on Transport of the Legislative Council and the Transport Advisory Committee in end 2024, and Members have expressed support for the proposal. We are carrying out the law drafting work, and will endeavour to introduce the proposed legislative amendments into the Legislative Council in the second quarter of 2025.

    (1) The TDOP system has taken effect on September 22, 2024. It covers 11 taxi-driver related offences (e.g. overcharging, refusing to accept a hire and driving to a destination other than by the most direct practicable route, etc). If a taxi driver becomes liable to a fixed penalty for or is convicted of such taxi-driver-related offence, he or she will incur three, five or 10 points, depending on the offence committed. If a taxi driver incurs 15 or more points under the TDOP system within a two-year period, he or she will be disqualified from driving a taxi for a certain period of time.

    In accordance with the records of the TD, until March 9, 2025, 66 taxi drivers incurred points under the TDOP system. The relevant offences committed include overcharging, refusing to accept a hire or driving to a destination other than by the most direct practicable route. Among all, five taxi drivers incurred three points, 12 taxi drivers incurred five points and 49 taxi drivers incurred 10 points. So far, no taxi driver is liable to disqualification from driving a taxi due to incurrence of 15 or more points.

    The TD and the HKPF do not maintain the breakdown of the numbers of complaints about taxi services and the numbers of taxi drivers who incurred points under the TDOP system by countryside and tourism zone.

    (2) The numbers of enforcement actions taken as well as the numbers of prosecution and conviction against the offences related to taxi services during the period from 2022 to the third quarter of 2024 are set out at the Annex. The Security Bureau and the HKPF do not maintain the breakdown of the aforementioned figures by countryside and tourism zone.

    (3) To help tourists understand the taxi fare arrangements in Hong Kong, the TD has published leaflets showing the taxi fare rates and the reference fares for journeying to and from major tourist areas and attractions in Hong Kong for distribution to tourists at the airport, major border crossings and tourist spots (e.g. Shenzhen Bay Port, Lok Ma Chau Control Point, Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point and Hong Kong Disneyland). The TD has also uploaded the leaflet onto its website for public viewing. The telephone numbers of the 1823 Call Centre, the Transport Complaints Unit (TCU), the Hong Kong Tourism Board and the HKPF are also provided on the leaflet for tourists to seek assistance and lodge complaints when needed. The Government has set up signs of the telephone number of the TCU at major public transport interchange as well. And the TD has also set up taxi information boards at major taxi stands to display information on taxi fares.

    If a member of the public suspects that a taxi driver has committed offences such as refusing to accept a hire or overcharging, he or she can record the name of the driver, vehicle registration mark of the taxi, time and location, etc, and report the matter to the HKPF. 

    (4) The Government attaches importance to the travelling needs of tourists to and from countryside and major tourist areas. Having regard to factors such as tourist traffic and overall operation of attractions, the relevant arrangement of public transport services is timely reviewed. In respect of the area of the High Island Reservoir in Sai Kung, apart from travelling by urban or New Territories taxi, citizens and tourists may make use of New Territories green minibus route no. 9A (Pak Tam Chung – the East Dam, High Island Reservoir) on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays. Green minibus route no. 9A has been in service since July 2018. The TD has been liaising with the minibus operator continuously with regard to passenger needs, in order to coordinate with the operator on service enhancement in the form of extension of service period and service hours, as well as increasing the frequency of the services. 

    The timetable of green minibus route no. 9A which is temporarily implemented from December 7, 2024 to March 30, 2025 is as follows:

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ13: Greater Bay Area Youth Employment Scheme

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ13: Greater Bay Area Youth Employment Scheme 
    Question:
     
         To foster career development of young persons and the exchange of talents in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region launched the pilot Greater Bay Area Youth Employment Scheme (the Scheme) in 2021, regularised the Scheme in 2023, and introduced an enhancement measure of relaxing the eligibility criteria for young persons this year. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

    (1) of the total number of applications received since the launch of the Scheme; the number of enterprises participating in the Scheme, and the number of young persons employed who have contributed to these enterprises’ success in allowance applications;
     
    (2) of the amount of allowance granted in each year since the launch of the Scheme;
     
    (3) whether the authorities hold information on the employment trends of those young persons participating in the Scheme, both during and after the completion of the 18-month subsidy period under the Scheme, including whether they have worked in Mainland cities for the full period of 18 months, and whether they have continued to work in Mainland cities after the completion of the subsidy period of the Scheme; if the authorities hold such information, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
     
    (4) whether the authorities have conducted separate surveys and studies on young persons and enterprises participating in the Scheme, so as to gather data and views for evaluation of the effectiveness of the Scheme; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that? 
    President,
     
         The Government launched the pilot Greater Bay Area (GBA) Youth Employment Scheme (the pilot scheme) in 2021 and has regularised the scheme (the regularised scheme) since 2023, encouraging enterprises to employ Hong Kong young people and station them to work in the Mainland cities of the GBA. Under the pilot scheme and the regularised scheme for 2023 and 2024, an allowance of HK$10,000 per month per young person was disbursed to enterprises for up to 18 months. Starting from January 2025, the allowance limit of the regularised scheme has increased to HK$12,000 per month per young person, or 60 per cent of the young person’s monthly salary, whichever is lower. The eligibility requirements for joining the scheme were also relaxed to include young people aged 29 or below with sub-degree or higher qualifications.
     
         My reply to the question raised by Dr the Hon Tan Yueheng is as follows:
     
    (1) As at February 2025, the pilot scheme and the regularised scheme recorded a total of 1 076 enterprises offering job vacancies and 2 262 young people have been employed. The scheme allows enterprises to recruit eligible young people directly through various channels. Hence, the Government does not have information on the number of young people who have applied for the vacancies under the scheme.
     
    (2) As at February 2025, the pilot scheme disbursed HK$117.91 million of allowance to enterprises. In 2023-24 and 2024-25 (as at February 2025), the regularised scheme respectively disbursed HK$15.07 million and HK$49.99 million of allowance to enterprises. 
         As some young people employed under the regularised scheme for 2023 and 2024 are still undergoing on-the-job training, the Labour Department (LD) will compile the relevant data in due course.Issued at HKT 11:35

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ10: Developing Hong Kong into a fashion design hub in Asia

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ10: Developing Hong Kong into fashion design hub in Asia 
    Question:
     
    As proposed by the Chief Executive in the 2023 Policy Address, the Hong Kong Fashion Design Week (Fashion Week), branded as Hong Kong Fashion Fest (Fashion Fest), would be held annually starting from 2024. In the 2024 Policy Address, it is proposed to make the new flagship Fashion Week an annual signature event to develop Hong Kong into a fashion design hub in Asia. It has been reported that the inaugural Fashion Fest was held in early December last year with resounding success. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) whether it has compiled statistics on the performance of the inaugural Fashion Fest, including the number of participants, the countries or regions from which the participants or attendees of the Fashion Fest came, and the media effectiveness, etc.;
     
    (2) of the plans and measures in place to make the Fashion Fest an annual signature event with more international and spectacular elements (including how to step up overseas publicity on the Fashion Fest in the international fashion arena, the industrial and commercial sectors, ‍etc.), and to reinforce Hong Kong’s positioning as the premier textile and fashion hub in the Asian region; and
     
    (3) as I have learnt that the fashion collections of an overseas brand were well received and successfully sold at the inaugural Fashion Fest, and the brand’s founder cum designer subsequently moved to Hong Kong to develop his/her career and business, whether the Government will consider adopting more proactive policy incentives and initiatives (e.g. reduction of profits tax and business registration fees) to attract brands and designers from the Mainland and regions along the Belt and Road such as Southeast Asia to move to Hong Kong to set up their presence, so as to establish more Asian international brands based in Hong Kong?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
    The Chief Executive has announced in his 2024 Policy Address to make the Hong Kong Fashion Design Week an annual signature event, developing Hong Kong into a fashion design hub in Asia. The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) has branded the event as Hong Kong Fashion Fest to consolidate different fashion design events and introduce innovative elements and affiliate activities annually, promoting Hong Kong’s fashion and textile design brands as well as promoting Hong Kong as a prime destination for hosting major cultural and creative events.
     
         In consultation with Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK), my reply to the question raised by the Hon Sunny Tan is as follows:
     
    (1) The inaugural Hong Kong Fashion Fest was funded by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) under the CSTB, with the core programmes took place from November 20 to December 4, 2024. During the period, the CCIDA carried out online and offline publicity and promotion, and invited local and international media to Hong Kong to experience in person the atmosphere of Hong Kong fashion scene. The inaugural Hong Kong Fashion Fest gathered around 160 000 participants from the industries and the public across 25 countries or regions. More than 500 media outlets and related representatives attended the events, and the event-related videos on social media garnered over 4.6 million views.
     
    (2) The inaugural Hong Kong Fashion Fest fully showcased Hong Kong’s potential and advantages as a fashion design hub in Asia, laying the foundation for its future development into an annual signature event.
     
    Preparation work for the Hong Kong Fashion Fest 2025 commenced at the end of last year. The CCIDA will fund and promote potential fashion design projects that align with the objectives of the Hong Kong Fashion Fest through the CreateSmart Initiative (CSI), and actively encourage collaboration within the local fashion industry. We will continue to promote the Hong Kong Fashion Fest to countries in Europe and along the Belt and Road, attracting prestigious fashion brands and industry players to Hong Kong to participate in the event and expand their collaboration opportunities with international fashion organisations and brands. We will also continue to optimise and enrich the content of the Hong Kong Fashion Fest, actively introducing different types of fashion design events to further strengthen the international appeal and influence of the Hong Kong Fashion Fest, fostering Hong Kong’s role as a prominent textile and fashion hub in Asia.
     
    On publicity, the CCIDA will adopt comprehensive public relations and marketing strategies, such as utilising digital media promotions, inviting local and overseas fashion celebrities to participate in the event, and organising networking activities for industry stakeholders, etc. in order to enhance the international visibility of the Hong Kong Fashion Fest and local fashion design.
     
    (3) The Hong Kong Fashion Fest creates a platform for local and overseas fashion designers and brands, as well as industry leaders and relevant professionals, by providing opportunities for exchanges and showcasing their works. We are pleased to note that a local fashion designer has received multiple inquiries for retail and business collaborations from both local and international sources after showcasing his works at the inaugural Hong Kong Fashion Fest. The fashion designer subsequently met with the leading figures in French fashion design industry to discuss potential collaborations for entering the French market. In addition, a Southeast Asian fashion designer has successfully increased her brand’s exposure and sold a few thousand high-end fashion pieces through her participation in the international fashion show of the Hong Kong Fashion Fest. Eventually, she decided to continue developing her fashion career and business in Hong Kong. We believe that the Hong Kong Fashion Fest will help attract more international brands and talents from Asia to establish their base in Hong Kong.
     
    Hong Kong offers an ideal business environment for foreign investors, featuring the advantages of low tax rates and a simple tax system, as well as simple and efficient procedures for foreign entrepreneurs to register their companies and apply for work visas. The CCIDA will actively liaise with InvestHK to provide support for local and overseas fashion brands seeking to develop their businesses in Hong Kong, and assist creative talent and enterprises in establishing themselves here.
    Issued at HKT 11:25

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ15: Supporting villages in organising mega events

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ15: Supporting villages in organising mega events 
    Question:
     
         It is learnt that every year, numerous festive and cultural events take place in villages throughout the New Territories. These events are hosted by the Rural Committees (RCs) and attract a large number of visitors from the Mainland and overseas for sightseeing. However, there are views pointing out that the organisation of such events requires significant human, material and financial resources, which places a considerable financial burden on the resource-constrained RCs. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) whether the Government provided financial and manpower support for the following rural mega events in the past three years: (i) the Lam Tsuen Wishing Festival, (ii) the Cheung Chau Bun Festival, (iii) ‍the Tin Hau Festival Parade of Yuen Long, (iv) the Hau Wong Festival of Tung Chung, (v) the Dragon Boat Races during the Dragon Boat Festival, and (vi) the Jiao Festivals of various villages; if so, of the details, and set out in a table the funding amount and number of support staff for each event; if not, the reasons for that;
     
    (2) whether, in order to fully implement the concept of “Tourism is everywhere in Hong Kong”, the Government will provide direct funding to various RCs and consider introducing a new project type of Rural Festive and Cultural Events under the Countryside Conservation Funding Scheme, so as to subsidise villages to organise events with distinctive festive characteristics; if not, of the reasons for that;
     
    (3) as there are views that the development of rural mega events and tourism in the New Territories requires the participation of various RCs, and yet it is learnt that the monthly subvention granted by the Government to each RC ranges from $15,300 to $16,700, with the last adjustment to the subvention amount made in 2018, whether the Government will adjust such amount upwards based on changes in the Composite Consumer Price Index; if not, of the reasons for that; and
     
    (4) whether, in addition to strengthening the promotion of rural mega events through the Tourism Commission and the Home Affairs Department, the Government will draw on the Mainland’s experience and use means such as live streaming and short video clips by rural online influencers to showcase the natural scenery, traditional culture and lifestyle of New Territories villages, so as to deepen the understanding of the public and tourists about the motherland and the New Territories, thereby promoting the development of rural mega events?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
         In respect of the question raised by the Hon Kenneth Lau, in consultation with the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and the Environment and Ecology Bureau, a consolidated reply is as follows:
     
         The Government has always been supportive of the organisation of major rural events, with a view to promoting and preserving traditional culture. Among other things, the Home Affairs Department implements the Community Involvement Programme through which eligible organisations, including non-governmental organisations such as Rural Committees (RCs) and district organisations, may apply for funding support to organise projects featuring local characteristics and popular festive celebrations as well as cultural, artistic and recreational activities to promote district harmony. In the past three years, more than $14 million has been allocated under the Community Involvement Programme to subsidise RCs and other district organisations in the New Territories in organising some of the major rural events mentioned in the question. In addition, all District Offices (DOs) in the New Territories have been in close liaison and collaboration with RCs and relevant district organisations, including the provision of manpower support to assist the organisers in carrying out relevant activities upon their invitation. Other government departments have also made concerted efforts to provide assistance for the activities in accordance with their respective duties and remit, including venue arrangements, crowd management, traffic diversions and road closures, environmental hygiene and public order. All of the above work is undertaken by the DOs and other departments concerned with their existing resources and manpower. Hence, a breakdown of the subsidy amount and manpower involved is not available.
     
         Besides, the Countryside Conservation Office under the Environment and Ecology Bureau also subsidises local non-profit-making organisations to organise diverse and innovative countryside conservation and revitalisation projects through the Countryside Conservation Funding Scheme (CCFS). One of the project types funded under the CCFS is Cultural Rehabilitation/Revitalisation Projects, which aims at enhancing public appreciation and awareness in conservation of target cultural assets. This project type encompasses elements of organising countryside festive events for attracting villagers to return to their villages for gatherings. For instance, festive activities were organised in Kuk Po last year for the Kuk Po Spring Equinox Festival in celebration of the new year, introducing the public to the Hakka culture, the features of Hakka cuisine and other Chinese New Year traditions.
     
         With regard to the promotion of major rural events, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has been promoting mega events and festivals through various channels, including social media posts and invitation to KOLs for experiencing Hong Kong in person, as well as production of a series of promotional content, including videos, outdoor advertising, programmes in collaboration with renowned media, to carry out promotion in different source markets around the world and boost promotion impact by complementing with contents on HKTB’s one-stop travel information platform Discover Hong Kong. These include “Hong Kong Great Outdoors”, a promotional platform featuring hiking, beaches and outdoor activities, leisure and sightseeing, as well as island hopping. It also promotes traditional festivities, such as Cheung Chau Bun Festival, Dragon Boat Water Parade of Tai O, Hung Shing Festival. These promotional contents introduce to tourists the natural scenery, traditional culture and lifestyle of villages in the New Territories and attract them to come to Hong Kong. Efforts are also made by the DOs concerned in promoting activities in their respective districts through different channels, including websites, social media platforms and local networks.
     
         The Government has always attached great importance to rural affairs and, through the provision of monthly subvention to RCs since the 1960s, to recognise and support their work. The rates and Government rents of RCs are also paid in full by the Government. The subvention to RCs is not subject to an adjustment mechanism approved by the Legislative Council. In 2018, the Government increased the subvention to RCs with reference to the changes in the Composite Consumer Price Index. There are three levels of RC subventions at $15,300, $15,800 and $16,700 per month respectively, which were set according to factors like the size of the RCs to cover their daily operating expenses. RCs may also apply for government subsidies for eligible rural activities through the various funding programmes mentioned above.
    Issued at HKT 11:25

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ22: Special child care centres

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ22: Special child care centres 
    Question:
     
         The special child care centres (SCCCs) under the Social Welfare Department provide whole day training and care for children with moderate to severe disabilities to facilitate their growth and development, helping them prepare for articulation to primary education. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) whether it has compiled statistics on the number of children receiving services provided by SCCCs in various districts in the past five years (with a breakdown by type of disability), as well as their average waiting time for such services;
     
    (2) whether it has compiled statistics on the respective numbers and percentages of children receiving services provided by SCCCs who have successfully articulated to mainstream schools and special schools; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
     
    (3) whether SCCCs will provide follow-up services to the children mentioned in (2); if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
     
    (4) whether it will regularly assess and review the teaching plans of SCCCs, so as to ensure that children receiving such services can adapt to social development and better articulate to primary education; if so, of the details?

    Reply:
     
    President,
     
         In response to Hon Lillian Kwok’s question, our reply is as follows.
     
    (1) and (2) As of the end of January 2025, there are 50 Special Child Care Centres (SCCCs), including six Residential Special Child Care Centres, across the territory providing full-day training and care for children aged two to six with moderate to severe disabilities. Children assessed to have the following developmental problems may register for SCCC service waitlist through the Central Referral System for Rehabilitation Services (CRSRehab): (ii) moderately or severely physically handicapped;
    (iii) deaf or with severe to profound hearing impairment;
    (iv) blind or with severe visual impairment; or
    (v) severe behavioural/emotional problems, hyperactive disposition or autistic disorder.
     
         CRSRehab allows parents to register their children under the age of two in advance for the service waitlist. However, service allocation will only be provided once the child reaches the age of two and when a service vacancy becomes available. 
         Children on the SCCC waiting list who are not receiving the aforementioned transitional services may apply for a training subsidy under the Training Subsidy Programme for Children on the Waiting List of Subvented Pre-school Rehabilitation Services, without being subject to any means test. They may utilise the subsidy to acquire self-financing pre-school rehabilitation services run by recognised service providers to receive training as early as possible.
     
         The numbers of service users for SCCCs and the average waiting time, broken down by the eleven administrative districts of the Social Welfare Department (SWD) in the past five years, are tabulated below:
     

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Electronic Health Record Sharing System (Amendment) Bill 2025 to be gazetted on Friday

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Government announced today (March 19) that the Electronic Health Record Sharing System (Amendment) Bill 2025 will be gazetted on Friday (March 21). The Bill aims to refine the existing legal framework of the Electronic Health Record Sharing System (eHealth) to tie in with and support its function enhancements and continuous development.

         The Bill seeks to amend the Electronic Health Record Sharing System Ordinance (Cap. 625) to expand and enhance the data collection, sharing, usage and protection mechanism of eHealth, in tandem with the “eHealth+” five-year development plan. “eHealth+” serves to transform eHealth into a comprehensive healthcare information infrastructure to complement the healthcare reform, including promoting primary healthcare, improving workflow efficiency and facilitating cross-boundary services, thereby providing citizens with more coherent and high-quality healthcare services.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: D9+ Ministerial Meeting for digital technology and connectivity in Amsterdam

    Source: Government of the Netherlands

    News item | 19-03-2025 | 10:45

    Minister Dirk Beljaarts of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands will host the D9+ Ministerial Meeting in Amsterdam on Wednesday 26 and Thursday 27 March 2025. Ministers from the thirteen most digitalized EU Member States and EU Commissioner Henna Virkkunen (Executive Vice-President of the European Commission) will meet at this summit. The D9+ Group of countries have joint ambitions to strengthen their digital economy, infrastructure and technologies and to better protect consumers on digital markets all based on a common EU digital technology strategy.

    The Ministerial Meeting in Amsterdam includes meetings to ensure more EU private investments in digital technologies and to improve access to financing for startups and scale-ups. The ministers will also discuss challenges regarding connectivity. Such as increasing the supercomputing capacity within the EU to be able to develop innovations in the field of both digital infrastructure and technology. During the D9+ the participating Ministers will also have meetings on artificial intelligence. Discussions will be held on topics like developing innovative AI technology and AI infrastructure within the EU and the use of AI in public services. During these meetings various guest speakers will also provide insight into how business investments can be stimulated.

    The following Ministers from the D9+ Group will be in Amsterdam for the summit: Caroline Stage (Minister for Digital Affairs; Denmark), Liisa-Ly Pakosta (Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs; Estonia), Niamh Smyth (Minister of State for Trade, Promotion, AI and Digital Transformation; Ireland), Elisabeth Margue (Minister Delegate to the Prime Minister for Media and Connectivity; Luxembourg), Dariusz Standerski, Secretary of State for Digital Affairs; Poland); Margarida Balseiro Lopes (Minister for Youth and Modernization; Portugal), Ksenija Klampfer (Minister of Digital Transformation; Slovenia), Oscar Lopez Águada (Minister for Digital Transformation and Civil Service; Spain), Marian Jurečka, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs; Czech Republic), Erik Slottner (Minister for Public Administration; Sweden). The representatives from Belgium and Finland have to be confirmed yet.

    The participating ministers have the ambition to deliver a final declaration which Minister Beljaarts will hand over to EU Commissioner Virkkunen. At the same time as the D9+ Ministerial Meeting both business federations (B9+) and start-up and scale-up organizations (S9+) from the thirteen countries involved will meet in Amsterdam.

    Origin of D9+

    In 2016, Sweden launched an initiative called ‘Digital Frontrunners’ following a report in which nine EU member states were designated as frontrunners. Four additional countries have since become members of the D9+. The Ministers meet informally twice a year to work together on their ambitions in the field of digital economy and technology. There is a rotating presidency. After the Netherlands, Portugal will organize the next D9+ in the second half of 2025.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EIB Global assists cities develop climate resilient urban projects in East Africa

    Source: European Investment Bank

    EIB

    The European Investment Bank (EIB Global) has availed over €1.2 million (over Ksh 166 million) in technical assistance support to cities in East Africa for preparation of climate resilient urban development projects.

    The cities set to benefit from this technical assistance are Kericho, Nyamira, Kisumu, Embu, Eldoret and Malindi in Kenya as well as Zanzibar in Tanzania and Makindye in Uganda.

    EIB Global’s support to cities is financed through the City Climate Finance Gap Fund – a multi-donor trust fund supported by Germany and Luxembourg and implemented jointly with the World Bank and in close partnership with German Development Cooperation (GIZ). The technical assistance program focuses on early-stage project preparation with an aim of facilitating access to finance for urban projects that would otherwise potentially remain at idea stage.

    Most of the support for the cities in the region will revolve around assessing options for managing solid waste and faecal sludge, waste to energy solutions through production of biogas and wastewater treatment. Preliminary proposed solutions have recommended integrated solid waste management plans that encompass segregation of waste at source, separation of waste  collections, waste recovery and proper disposal.

    Further technical assistance promotes active mobility through evaluating non-motorised transport options, implementing urban flood proofing measures to mitigate flood risks and enhancing environmental sustainability by establishment of green public parks as well as expansion of urban forestry and biodiversity.

    In Kenya, EIB Global’s support is geared towards helping the cities access further financing support from an ongoing infrastructure investment programme known as the Kenya Urban Support Programme II, upon completion of the Gap Fund technical assistance.

    EIB Vice President Thomas Ostros said, “Cities and local governments play a key role in fighting climate change because they experience its effects the most. However, they often struggle to develop climate-resilient infrastructure, mainly due to a lack of resources and expertise to create strong, investment-ready projects. Through its support for the Gap Fund, the EIB helps cities bridge these gaps and prepare effective climate projects.”

    Technical assistance for project preparation plays a vital role in facilitating the implementation and financing of climate action projects by availing bankable opportunities. This is particularly true at urban or sub-national level where local authorities sometimes do not have enough in-house capacity to prepare robust projects that can attract public and private finance providers at an international level.

    The European Investment Bank is very active in urban climate finance especially through the City Climate Finance Gap Fund. The Bank works with other partners to advise on projects that will place cities on a path to net zero.

    Background information

    About EIB Global

    The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. It finances investments that contribute to EU policy objectives.

    EIB Global is the EIB Group’s specialised arm devoted to increasing the impact of international partnerships and development finance, and a key partner of Global Gateway. We aim to support €100 billion of investment by the end of 2027 — around one-third of the overall target of this EU initiative. Within Team Europe, EIB Global fosters strong, focused partnerships alongside fellow development finance institutions and civil society. EIB Global brings the EIB Group closer to people, companies and institutions through our offices across the world. High-quality, up-to-date photos of our headquarters for media use are available here.

    About City Climate Finance Gap Fund:

    Cities are key to creating a climate-smart future. Over half the global population lives in cities, generating 80% of total economic output and accounting for 70% of global CO2 emissions. While urbanization is a key driver of growth, unplanned, rapid urbanization and urban sprawl threaten to increase greenhouse gas emissions and vulnerability to climate change and other shocks. As many cities and local governments take steps to become low-carbon and climate-resilient, they face barriers in accessing finance as well as difficulties in planning and project preparation, due to insufficient capacity or resources — particularly in the early stages of the project cycle. The Gap Fund supports cities in addressing this specific challenges.

    On 20th September 2023, the governments of Germany and Luxembourg announced new funding of €50 million for the City Climate Finance Gap Fund (Gap Fund), a multi-donor fund, implemented by the World Bank and the European Investment Bank with partners. These resources will support the development of low-carbon and climate-resilient urban investments and will nearly than double the fund’s capitalization, bringing it to €105 million, one of the largest early-stage technical assistance funds for cities and climate.

    It provides much-needed funding for early-stage technical assistance and capacity building so that cities from low- and middle-income countries can operationalize their climate action plans, develop robust project concepts, and access climate finance resources. Since its establishment in 2020, EIB has supported 137 cities in developing and emerging economies through the Gap Fund.  

    EIB Global Assists Cities Develop Climate Resilient Urban Projects in East Africa
    EIB Global Assists Cities Develop Climate Resilient Urban Projects in East Africa
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    EIB Global Assists Cities Develop Climate Resilient Urban Projects in East Africa
    EIB Global Assists Cities Develop Climate Resilient Urban Projects in East Africa
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    EIB Global Assists Cities Develop Climate Resilient Urban Projects in East Africa
    EIB Global Assists Cities Develop Climate Resilient Urban Projects in East Africa
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    EIB Global Assists Cities Develop Climate Resilient Urban Projects in East Africa
    EIB Global Assists Cities Develop Climate Resilient Urban Projects in East Africa
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Conscription as an element in European Union preparedness – 19-03-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Once considered an issue of the past, conscription has increasingly made its way back onto European, EU and global policy agendas in recent years, mainly since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. As EU defence policy has steadily progressed, with new procurement initiatives and defence industry reinforcement, a parallel discussion on the EU’s armed forces is evolving in the context of the EU’s common security and defence policy (CSDP). Europe’s civilian and military preparedness and readiness has also come under the spotlight recently, as highlighted by the report presented in October 2024 by former Finnish President Sauli Niinistö. Opinion polls in some Member States also show growing support for the reintroduction of national service or conscription. Mounting threats to European security, fears of transatlantic disengagement, as well as the position of the new United States administration and potential peace plans for Ukraine involving the presence of European troops, has raised awareness of the need to ready Member States’ armed forces for the most extreme military contingencies. The conscription landscape across the EU is diverse. National defence is primarily carried out by professional armed forces, but conscription is becoming increasingly relevant. Some EU countries retained conscription practices beyond the end of the Cold War, while others reintroduced conscription modalities following Russia’s 2022 invasion. Peacetime conscription policies differ among Member States in, among other things, the number of conscripts, the length of service, the level of compensation provided, and the size of the reserve forces. The Niinistö report underscored the potential importance of conscription in developing a holistic ‘total defence’ concept that connects military and civil defence, while promoting a ‘whole-of-society’ approach to crisis response and preparedness. It also proposes increasing structured exchanges between Member States to identify national service and conscription model best practices, potentially facilitated by the EU. Some experts have highlighted the benefits of implementing conscription, while others are sceptical of poorly trained and ill-equipped conscript armies. The European Parliament has repeatedly underlined the limited number of personnel devoted to CSDP missions and operations, highlighting issues related to force generation.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Austria: EIB supports hydropower expansion in Upper Austria

    Source: European Investment Bank

    • The EIB is providing €320 million in loans for the construction of the Ebensee pumped storage power plant.
    • Energie AG plans to invest more than €600 million to expand hydropower in Upper Austria, with a €400 million financing package for this objective approved by the EIB.

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) has granted Energie AG Oberösterreich in Upper Austria a financing package of up to €400 million to expand hydropower. Energie AG plans to invest a total of over €600 million in a new pumped storage power plant in Ebensee and a planned run-of-river hydropower plant in Roitham/Traunfall.

    The Ebensee pumped storage power plant will act as a green battery, compensating for fluctuations in the power generation from wind and solar plants and ensuring security of supply. Financing agreements for the Ebensee project encompassing €320 million were signed at EIB headquarters in Luxembourg.

    The Ebensee project is the single largest investment by Energie AG Oberösterreich to date, and is a milestone in the transformation of the energy supply in Upper Austria. An additional €80 million in financing for the Traunfall run-of-river power plant, intended to replace three hydropower plants at the end of their useful life, has also been given advance EIB approval. The relevant financing contracts are set to be signed in 2025, subject to the pending approval of the project by the Supervisory Board of Energie AG Oberösterreich. 

    “Rapidly expanding renewable energy is crucial for decarbonising the economy. The hydropower plants by Energie AG Oberösterreich are another important step on the road to a climate-neutral energy supply, and will help reduce Europe’s dependence on oil and gas imports,” said EIB Vice-President Thomas Östros.

    “Our strategy at Energie AG Oberösterreich has set a course for maximum carbon reduction throughout the entire company. All told, we will be investing €4 billion by 2035 to expand renewable energy and grids. We are also making major investments in green hydrogen production,” said Leonhard Schitter, Chair and CEO of Energie AG Oberösterreich.

    “In the coming decades, the energy sector – including Energie AG Oberösterreich – will be influenced by high investment requirements for the process of transformation needed to develop a sustainable energy system. A key success factor in this process will be providing for future financing requirements early, with optimal borrowing and framework conditions. With the EIB, we are delighted to have a strong partner on board for this challenge,” said Andreas Kolar, CFO of Energie AG Oberösterreich.

    This project is part of REPowerEU, the EU plan to rapidly reduce Europe’s dependence on fossil fuels. Thanks to REPowerEU, the EIB is able to finance a higher share of the total project costs than the usual 30-50%.

    The investment also furthers the objectives of Austria’s National Energy and Climate Plan, which plans to convert all electricity generation to renewables by 2030.

    Background information  

    EIB 

    The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. Built around eight core priorities, we finance investments that contribute to EU policy objectives by bolstering climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and bioeconomy, social infrastructure, high-impact investments outside the European Union, and the capital markets union.  The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high-impact projects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security.  All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Climate Agreement, as pledged in our Climate Bank Roadmap. Almost 60% of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and a healthier environment. Fostering market integration and mobilising investment, the Group supported a record of over €100 billion in new investment for Europe’s energy security in 2024 and mobilised €110 billion in growth capital for startups, scale-ups and European pioneers. Approximately half of the EIB’s financing within the European Union is directed towards cohesion regions, where per capita income is lower than the EU average.

    In 2024, the EIB Group signed financing of €1.7 billion in Austria. This primarily promoted countercyclical investments in energy-intensive sectors like steel and renewable energy.

    High-quality, up-to-date photos of our headquarters for media use are available here.

    Energie AG Oberösterreich is a leader in the sustainable future of energy. As the largest energy provider in Austria’s main industrial region, it is doing everything it can to cut emissions throughout the cycle of generation, distribution and recycling – sustainably reducing the CO2 produced by the entire organisation. The goal: to be climate neutral and energy independent by 2035, ensuring security of supply and safe disposal. By 2035, renewable energy sources like water, wind and solar should generate a total of 1.2 TWh per year. That’s the average electricity consumption of around 330 000 households – meaning more than 700 000 people. With the construction of the Ebensee pumped storage power plant, Energie AG Oberösterreich is taking yet another important step towards a sustainable energy future.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Reward offered in appeal to solve murder of Junior Nelson

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Detectives investigating the murder of Junior George Nelson, whose remains were found nine years ago in Northolt, are appealing for witnesses and information to identify whoever is responsible.

    The independent charity Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to £20,000 for information that leads to the identification and prosecution of those responsible for Junior’s murder.

    A murder investigation was launched after Junior’s remains were found in undergrowth near railway lines at the back of Rabournmead Drive in Northolt on 14 March 2016.

    Junior had been reported missing after last being seen on 15 August 2015 in Kilburn.

    Detective Constable Iain McDonald from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command said:

    “It’s been ten years since Junior disappeared – years in which his family and friends have been left without the answers they deserve.

    “We remain committed to finding those responsible for Juniors’s death but need the public’s help. There are people amongst the community, in particularly the Kilburn area, who know what happened to Junior.

    “A lot can happen in ten years. Allegiances can change and maybe you felt unable to talk to us at the time, for whatever reason, but you are now in a position to do so. Now is the time to come forward.

    “We understand that those with information may be concerned, but I would urge anyone who can help to come forward and help give Junior’s family the justice they deserve.

    “A substantial reward is available from Crimestoppers, who are a charity, independent of to the police. – They will not ask for your personal details when you contact them, just for any information that could help identify who is responsible for Junior’s murder. To qualify for this reward, you must provide information directly to them.

    “You can also speak to our investigation team. Any information you have, no matter how small, could be significant and will be treated with the strictest confidence.”

    Alexa Loukas, Crimestoppers’ London Regional Manager, said:

    “We know that coming forward and speaking up can be incredibly daunting. Crimestoppers provides a safe and anonymous way for anyone with information to help, without ever having to involve the police. Even though ten years have passed since Junior’s tragic murder, what you know could be the key to bringing justice for Junior and providing his family with the answers they so desperately need. We cannot identify telephone numbers or IP addresses, and we never record calls. Since our charity was founded in 1988, we have always upheld our promise of anonymity.”

    Anyone with information is asked submit this online to police via the Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP) at this link.

    You can also provide information anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via crimestoppers-uk.org. The reward will only be payable for information passed directly to Crimestoppers and not to the police. A reward code must be asked for when calling the charity on 0800 555 111. If you contact Crimestoppers via the online form anonymously, the ‘keeping in contact’ facility must be used and a reward code must be requested on your initial contact with the charity.

    An investigation was initially launched after Junior Nelson was reported missing on 21 August 2015 – he had last been seen at his home address in Aldershot Road, NW6 at around midday on Saturday 15 August. Police believe he remained in the vicinity of his home until that evening before he travelled from Kilburn towards Wembley. This was not a usual journey he would take.

    Mobile phone analysis subsequently confirmed his phone was in use in the Stonebridge Park area of Wembley at around 22:00hrs that evening – however, his phone has never been recovered.

    Junior was well known in the Kilburn area. Police believe that prior to his disappearance he was being taken advantage of by those involved in dealing illegal drugs in the area.

    Police initially investigated Junior as a missing person but this was changed to a murder investigation following the discovery of his remains.

    Four people were arrested following an initial investigation but all were released without charge.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Liquidia Corporation Reports Full Year 2024 Financial Results and Provides Corporate Update

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Targeting final FDA approval of YUTREPIA™ after expiration of regulatory exclusivity on May 23, 2025
    • Advancing pipeline of inhaled treprostinil products in clinical studies
    • Strengthened financial position by up to $100 million via amendment to existing financing agreement with HealthCare Royalty Partners (HCRx)
    • Company to host webcast today at 8:30 a.m. ET

    MORRISVILLE, N.C., March 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Liquidia Corporation (NASDAQ: LQDA), a biopharmaceutical company developing innovative therapies for patients with rare cardiopulmonary disease, today reported financial results for the full year ended December 31, 2024. The company will also host a webcast at 8:30 a.m. ET on March 19, 2025 to discuss its financial results and provide a corporate update.

    Dr. Roger Jeffs, Liquidia’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “Building on our progress this past year, Liquidia has strengthened its financial position, with up to an additional $100 million available pursuant to an amendment to its existing financing agreement with HCRx, while remaining poised for the potential approval and commercialization of YUTREPIA after the expiration on May 23, 2025 of the regulatory exclusivity that is currently preventing final approval. We continue to have our sights set on fulfilling our promise to provide physicians and patients with what we believe can be a much-needed therapeutic alternative, and potentially the prostacyclin of first choice, for patients with PAH and PH-ILD.”

    Corporate Updates

    Potential for final FDA approval of YUTREPIA (treprostinil) inhalation powder after expiration of regulatory exclusivity on May 23, 2025
    On August 16, 2024, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted tentative approval for YUTREPIA for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease (PH-ILD) and simultaneously determined that Tyvaso DPI® qualifies for a three-year New Clinical Investigation (NCI) exclusivity for the chronic use of dry powder formulations of treprostinil for the approved indications. The NCI exclusivity will expire on May 23, 2025, after which the FDA may grant final approval of YUTREPIA.

    Continuing to advance the pipeline of inhaled treprostinil in the clinic
    The open-label ASCENT study evaluating the tolerability and titratability of YUTREPIA in patients with PH-ILD is nearing enrollment completion. Observations to date have demonstrated tolerability and titratability of YUTREPIA in PH-ILD patients that is consistent with observations from the prior INSPIRE study in PAH patients.  

    Liquidia continues to progress clinical studies of L606 (liposomal treprostinil) inhalation suspension, an investigational sustained-release formulation of treprostinil administered twice-daily with a next-generation nebulizer. The U.S. open-label safety study of 28 patients with PAH and PH-ILD remains ongoing. To date, participants have safely titrated to the study’s maximum dose twice daily, which is comparable to 26-28 breaths of Tyvaso® administered four times per day. The FDA has confirmed that a single, placebo-controlled, global pivotal study in PH-ILD patients would support seeking approval to treat both PAH and PH-ILD patients.

    Strengthened financial position by amending HCRx agreement to incrementally add up to $100 million
    In March 2025, Liquidia entered into an amendment to its agreement with HCRx (HCR Agreement) to provide for up to an additional $100 million of financing in three tranches. Under the terms of the agreement, Liquidia received $25.0 million at closing with the potential to receive two additional tranches of funding: $50.0 million upon the first commercial sale of YUTREPIA following receipt of final FDA approval for the treatment of PAH and PH-ILD, so long as no injunction has been issued prohibiting Liquidia from commercializing YUTREPIA for either or both of PAH and PH-ILD, and $25.0 million upon the mutual agreement of the parties after achieving aggregate net sales of YUTREPIA in excess of $100 million any time on or prior to June 30, 2026.

    Full Year 2024 Financial Results

    Cash and cash equivalents totaled $176.5 million as of December 31, 2024, compared to $83.7 million as of December 31, 2023.

    Revenue was $14.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $17.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Revenue related primarily to the promotion agreement with Sandoz, Inc. pursuant to which we share profits from the sale of Treprostinil Injection in the United States (Promotion Agreement). The decrease of $3.5 million was primarily due to lower sales quantities, driven by limitations on the availability of pumps used to administer Treprostinil Injection subcutaneously. Sales quantities will continue to be impacted until alternative pumps are available.

    Cost of revenue was $5.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $2.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Cost of revenue related to the Promotion Agreement as noted above. The increase from the prior year was primarily due to our sales force expansion during the fourth quarter of 2023.

    Research and development expenses were $47.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $43.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase of $4.6 million or 11% was primarily due to (i) a $6.1 million increase in expenses related to our L606 program, (ii) a $5.3 million increase in expenses related to YUTREPIA research and development activities, including the ASCENT trial, (iii) a $5.1 million increase in personnel expenses (including stock-based compensation) related to increased headcount, and (iv) a $3.5 million upfront license fee due to Pharmosa for the exclusive license in Europe to develop and commercialize L606 recorded during the year ended December 31, 2024, offset by (i) $5.1 million lower commercial manufacturing expenses reflecting the impact of expensing YUTREPIA inventory costs in the prior year and (ii) a $10.0 million upfront license fee due to Pharmosa for the exclusive license in North America to develop and commercialize L606 recorded during the year ended December 31, 2023.

    General and administrative expenses were $81.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $44.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase of $36.9 million or 82% was primarily due to (i) a $19.7 million increase in personnel expenses (including stock-based compensation) driven by higher headcount and expansion of our sales force in the fourth quarter of 2023, (ii) a $7.9 million increase in legal fees related to our ongoing YUTREPIA-related litigation, and (iii) a $6.8 million increase in commercial expenses in preparation for the potential commercialization of YUTREPIA.

    Total other expense, net was $9.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $5.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase of $4.0 million was primarily driven by a $2.0 million increase in the net loss on extinguishment of debt resulting from the Fourth and Fifth Amendments to the HCR Agreement, which were executed in January 2024 and September 2024, respectively. Additionally, there was a $6.2 million increase in interest expense attributable to the higher borrowings under the HCR Agreement compared to the prior year and a $4.2 million increase in interest income attributable to higher money market balances.

    Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2024, was $130.4 million or $1.66 per basic and diluted share, compared to a net loss of $78.5 million, or $1.21 per basic and diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2023.

    About YUTREPIA™ (treprostinil) Inhalation Powder
    YUTREPIA is an investigational, inhaled dry-powder formulation of treprostinil delivered through a convenient, low-effort, palm-sized device. In August 2024, the FDA issued tentative approval of YUTREPIA for the PAH and PH-ILD indications. YUTREPIA was designed using Liquidia’s PRINT® technology, which enables the development of drug particles that are precise and uniform in size, shape and composition, and that are engineered for enhanced deposition in the lung following oral inhalation. Liquidia has completed INSPIRE, or Investigation of the Safety and Pharmacology of Dry Powder Inhalation of Treprostinil, an open-label, multi-center phase 3 clinical study of YUTREPIA in patients diagnosed with PAH who are naïve to inhaled treprostinil or who are transitioning from Tyvaso® (nebulized treprostinil). YUTREPIA is currently being studied in the ASCENT trial, an Open-Label Prospective Multicenter Study to Evaluate Safety and Tolerability of Dry Powder Inhaled Treprostinil in Pulmonary Hypertension, to evaluate the safety and tolerability of YUTREPIA in PH-ILD patients. YUTREPIA was previously referred to as LIQ861 in investigational studies.

    About L606 (liposomal treprostinil) Inhalation Suspension
    L606 is an investigational, sustained-release formulation of treprostinil administered twice-daily with a next-generation nebulizer. The L606 suspension uses Pharmosa Biopharm’s proprietary liposomal formulation to encapsulate treprostinil which can be released slowly at a controlled rate into the lung, enhancing drug exposure over an extended period of time. L606 is currently being evaluated in an open-label study in the United States for treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease (PH-ILD) with a planned global pivotal placebo-controlled efficacy study for the treatment of PH-ILD.

    About Treprostinil Injection
    Treprostinil Injection is the first-to-file, fully substitutable generic treprostinil for parenteral administration. Treprostinil Injection contains the same active ingredient, same strengths, same dosage form and same inactive ingredients as Remodulin® (treprostinil) and is offered to patients and physicians with the same level of service and support, but at a lower price than the branded drug. Liquidia PAH promotes the appropriate use of Treprostinil Injection for the treatment of PAH in the United States in partnership with its commercial partner, Sandoz, who holds the Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) with the FDA.

    About Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH)
    Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare, chronic, progressive disease caused by hardening and narrowing of the pulmonary arteries that can lead to right heart failure and eventually death. Currently, an estimated 45,000 patients are diagnosed and treated in the United States. There is currently no cure for PAH, so the goals of existing treatments are to alleviate symptoms, maintain or improve functional class, delay disease progression and improve quality of life.

    About Pulmonary Hypertension Associated with Interstitial Lung Disease (PH-ILD)
    Pulmonary hypertension (PH) associated with interstitial lung disease (ILD) includes a diverse collection of up to 150 different pulmonary diseases, including interstitial pulmonary fibrosis, chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis, connective tissue disease related ILD, and chronic pulmonary fibrosis with emphysema (CPFE) among others. Any level of PH in ILD patients is associated with poor 3-year survival. A current estimate of PH-ILD prevalence in the United States is greater than 60,000 patients, though actual prevalence in many of these underlying ILD diseases is not yet known due to factors including underdiagnosis and lack of approved treatments until March 2021 when inhaled treprostinil was first approved for this indication.

    About Liquidia Corporation
    Liquidia Corporation is a biopharmaceutical company developing innovative therapies for patients with rare cardiopulmonary disease. The company’s current focus spans the development and commercialization of products in pulmonary hypertension and other applications of its proprietary PRINT® Technology. PRINT enabled the creation of Liquidia’s lead candidate, YUTREPIA™ (treprostinil) inhalation powder, an investigational drug for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease (PH-ILD).  The company is also developing L606, an investigational sustained-release formulation of treprostinil administered twice-daily with a next-generation nebulizer, and currently markets generic Treprostinil Injection for the treatment of PAH. To learn more about Liquidia, please visit www.liquidia.com.

    Remodulin® and Tyvaso® are registered trademarks of United Therapeutics Corporation.

    Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
    This press release may include forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical facts, including statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, our strategic and financial initiatives, our business strategy and plans and our objectives for future operations, are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements, including statements regarding clinical trials, clinical studies and other clinical work (including the funding therefor, anticipated patient enrollment, safety data, study data, trial outcomes, timing or associated costs), regulatory applications and related submission contents and timelines, including the potential for final FDA approval of the NDA for YUTREPIA, which may occur after the expiration of the exclusivity period of TYVASO DPI, if at all, the timelines or outcomes related to patent litigation with United Therapeutics in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, litigation with United Therapeutics and FDA in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia or other litigation instituted by United Therapeutics or others, including rehearings or appeals of decisions in any such proceedings, the issuance of patents by the USPTO and our ability to execute on our strategic or financial initiatives, the potential for additional funding under the HCR Agreement, our anticipated use of net proceeds funded under the HCR Agreement, our estimates regarding future expenses, capital requirements and needs for additional financing, and potential revenue and profitability of YUTREPIA, if approved, involve significant risks and uncertainties and actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied herein. The favorable decisions of courts or other tribunals are not determinative of the outcome of the appeals or rehearings of the decisions. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “would,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, short-term and long-term business operations and objectives and financial needs. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks discussed in our filings with the SEC, as well as a number of uncertainties and assumptions. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment and our industry has inherent risks. New risks emerge from time to time. It is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements we may make. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the future events discussed in this press release may not occur and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. Nothing in this press release should be regarded as a representation by any person that these goals will be achieved, and we undertake no duty to update our goals or to update or alter any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    Contact Information

    Investors:
    Jason Adair
    Chief Business Officer
    919.328.4350
    Jason.adair@liquidia.com

    Media:
    Patrick Wallace
    Director, Corporate Communications
    919.328.4383
    patrick.wallace@liquidia.com

    Liquidia Corporation 
    Select Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet Data (unaudited) 
    (in thousands)
            December 31,        December 31,     
            2024          2023     
    Cash and cash equivalents       $   176,479           $   83,679      
    Total assets       $   230,313           $   118,332      
    Total liabilities       $   153,038           $   71,039      
    Accumulated deficit       $   (559,492 )        $   (429,098)    
    Total stockholders’ equity       $   77,275           $   47,293      

     

    Liquidia Corporation 
    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss (unaudited) 
    (in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
          Full Year Ended

    December 31,

    		  
          2024         2023     
    Revenue     $  13,996         $  17,488     
    Costs and expenses:                         
    Cost of revenue     $  5,879         $  2,888      
    Research and development     $ 47,842         $  43,242     
    General and administrative     $ 81,569         $  44,742      
    Total costs and expenses     $  135,290         $  90,872      
    Loss from operations     $  (121,294  )      $  (73,384  )  
    Other income (expense):                         
    Interest income     $  7,654         $  3,466      
    Interest expense     $  (12,486 )      $  (6,273 )  
    Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt   $ (4,268 )     $ (2,311 )  
    Total other expense, net     $  (9,100  )      $ (5,118  )  
    Net loss and comprehensive loss     $  (130,394  )      $  (78,502  )  
    Net loss per common share, basic and diluted     $  (1.66  )      $  (1.21  )  
    Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted     $ 78,707,503         $ 64,993,476     
                         

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Castellum Announces Closing of $4.5 Million Public Offering of Common Stock and Warrants

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VIENNA, Va., March 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Castellum, Inc. (the “Company” and “Castellum”) (NYSE-American: CTM), a cybersecurity, electronic warfare, and software services company focused on the federal government, today announced the closing of its previously announced public offering of 4,500,000 Units at a public offering price of $1.00 per Unit. Each unit consisted of one share of common stock and one warrant to purchase one share of common stock. The warrants are immediately exercisable at $1.08 per share and will expire 60 days from the date of issuance. The shares of common stock and warrants are immediately separable and were issued separately.

    Gross proceeds from the offering were approximately $4.5 million before deducting placement agent fees and offering expenses. Castellum intends to use the net proceeds of the offering for working capital and general corporate purposes.

    Maxim Group LLC acted as the sole placement agent, on a reasonable best-efforts basis for the offering.

    A shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-284205) relating to the securities being offered was previously filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and became effective on January 24, 2025. The shares of common stock and shares underlying the warrants were offered only by means of a prospectus. A preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to and describing the terms of the public offering have been filed with the SEC. A final prospectus supplement and an accompanying prospectus relating to the offering has been filed with the SEC and is available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies of the final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the public offering may be obtained by contacting Maxim Group LLC, at 300 Park Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10022, Attention: Prospectus Department, or by telephone at (212) 895-3745 or by email at syndicate@maximgrp.com.

    This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.

    About Castellum, Inc.

    Castellum, Inc. (NYSE-American: CTM) is a defense-oriented technology company that is executing strategic acquisitions in the cybersecurity, MBSE, and information warfare areas – http://castellumus.com/.

    Forward-Looking Statements:

    This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, based on current expectations and assumptions concerning future events or future performance of the company. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are only predictions and speak only as of the date hereof. Words such as “will,” “would,” “believe,” and “expects,” and similar language or phrasing are indicative of forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are outside of the Company’s control, that could cause actual results to differ (sometimes materially) from the results expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, including, among others: the Company’s ability to close the described equity financing; its ability to effectively integrate and grow its acquired companies; its ability to identify additional acquisition targets and close additional acquisitions; the impact on the Company’s revenue due to a delay in the U.S. Congress approving a federal budget; and the Company’s ability to maintain the listing of its common stock on the NYSE American LLC. In evaluating such statements, prospective investors should review carefully various risks and uncertainties identified in Item 1A. “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s recently filed Form 10-Q, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in the Company’s most recent Form 10-K, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission which can be viewed at www.sec.gov. These risks and uncertainties, or not closing the described potential equity financing in this press release, could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Except to the extent required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, a change in events, conditions, circumstances or assumptions underlying such statements, or otherwise.

    Contact:

    Glen Ives
    President and Chief Executive Officer
    Phone: (703) 752-6157
    Info@castellumus.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a0792b57-251a-4b24-8adf-09fcf21736c1

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Government meeting (2025, No. 9)

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    1. On the draft federal law “On Amending Articles 14 and 15 of the Federal Law “On Amending Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation, Suspending Certain Provisions of Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation, Recognizing Certain Provisions of Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation as Invalid and Establishing Specifics for the Execution of Budgets of the Budget System of the Russian Federation in 2025”

    The implementation of the bill will allow for the prompt allocation of budgetary allocations to financial support for the implementation of priority activities, including those aimed at achieving the national development goals of the Russian Federation, and will also increase the efficiency of providing subsidies for the development of economic sectors.

    2. On amendments to certain acts of the Government of the Russian Federation (in terms of amendments to the Regulation on the Ministry of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic)

    The draft resolution was developed in order to update the regulatory framework in the area of preferential regimes for carrying out economic activities.

    3. On the allocation by the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East of budgetary allocations reserved in the federal budget for the provision of subsidies to the budgets of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation for the implementation of measures of the social development plans of the economic growth centers of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation that are part of the Far Eastern Federal District

    The draft order is aimed at ensuring the implementation in 2025–2027 of the activities of the social development plans for the economic growth centers of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation that are part of the Far Eastern Federal District.

    4. On the draft federal law “On Amendments to Article 65 of the Water Code of the Russian Federation”

    The bill is aimed at ensuring the possibility of using motor vehicles in water protection zones without building permanent roads during the period of creation of recreational facilities in order to ensure construction and installation work, delivery of necessary equipment and inventory.

    5. On the draft federal law “On Amendments to the Federal Law “On the Safety of Hydraulic Structures””

    The bill is aimed at clarifying the powers of federal executive bodies that exercise functions in developing and implementing state policy and legal regulation in the field of safety of hydraulic structures, established by Federal Law No. 117-FZ of July 21, 1997 “On the Safety of Hydraulic Structures”.

    6. On the allocation to the Ministry of Construction of Russia in 2025 from the reserve fund of the Government of the Russian Federation of budgetary appropriations for the provision of one-time financial assistance in the form of a subsidy from the federal budget to the budget of the Republic of Crimea for the purpose of co-financing the expenditure obligations of the said subject of the Russian Federation arising from the implementation of measures to restore coastal protection structures

    The development of the draft order was dictated by the need to carry out urgent repair work on coastal protection structures.

    7. On amendments to the order of the Government of the Russian Federation of January 17, 2025 No. 31-r (in terms of increasing the volume of budgetary allocations to the Ministry of Construction of Russia in 2025 due to the redistribution of funds reserved as part of the approved budgetary allocations of the federal budget for the provision of subsidies to support measures to ensure the balance of the budgets of the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Lugansk People’s Republic and the Zaporizhia region

    The draft order is aimed at financial support for expenses related to pension provision for citizens living in the territories of the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Lugansk People’s Republic and the Zaporizhia region.

    Moscow, March 18, 2025

    The content of the press releases of the Department of Press Service and References is a presentation of materials submitted by federal executive bodies for discussion at a meeting of the Government of the Russian Federation.

    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 Russia: Moscow volunteers brought more than five tons of humanitarian aid to Kursk

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Moscow volunteers delivered more than five tons of humanitarian aid to Kursk. Several hundred boxes with essential items and gifts were handed over by residents of the capital for participants in the special military operation (SVO), families, including children. Some of the items sent were collected in the winter in the “Houses of Good” of the project “Moscow helps”.

    Volunteers brought aid to a temporary accommodation point for residents who were forced to leave the border areas of the Kursk region and to military personnel, and met with a family of displaced persons and the mother of a SVO participant.

    “Delivering humanitarian aid and gifts, handing them over personally with words of support is a responsible and important mission for volunteers. The guys have already traveled to the Belgorod Region and readily responded to the opportunity to go to Kursk. Since August 2024, 29 deliveries of humanitarian aid have already been organized from Moscow to this destination. Over the entire period, more than 172 tons of aid have been delivered to the region,” she said.

    Ekaterina Dragunova, Chairman of the Committee for Public Relations and Youth Policy of the City of Moscow.

    Since 2022, a total of 119 humanitarian aid shipments have been made to new and border territories.

    “Moscow helps”

    Volunteers prepared boxes with humanitarian aid for shipment at the flagship headquarters of “Moscow Helps”. All items were carefully distributed into boxes before loading, so as not to damage the integrity of the packaging during transportation. The cargo was labeled depending on the category of goods. Volunteers placed “Moscow Helps” stickers on the boxes.

    Upon arrival in Kursk, the capital’s volunteers went to the temporary accommodation point. They delivered boxes with clothes, food, personal hygiene products, gifts for children, confectionery, stationery, toys and books.

    Participants in the special military operation were given some of the gifts collected in the “Houses of Good” of the “Moscow Helps” project, and postcards with words of support. The fighters were given wet wipes, personal hygiene products, and confectionery. An important part of the cargo for the fighters were socks, insoles, thermal underwear, and other items.

    The family of migrants and the mother of the SVO participant were given boxes with a set of necessary products and personal hygiene products. The list of collected items includes buckwheat, pasta, rice, sugar, candy, tea, shampoos, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste and liquid soap.

    Among the volunteers from the capital was a student of the Russian New University Georgy Didenko. At the university, he headed the volunteer corps, participated in social events, organized donor campaigns and participated in collecting aid for a military hospital. The student often travels with humanitarian aid to the Kursk region and frontline zones. He delivers goods to temporary accommodation points and passes on patronage aid to SVO participants.

    “I readily responded to the opportunity to go to Kursk again and deliver humanitarian aid to border residents,” Georgy shared.

    How humanitarian aid is collected and distributed

    Shipments to Kursk Oblast are made up to four times a week. The cargo arrives in the region upon requests from charitable foundations, social and public organizations. The goods are then distributed to residents, displaced persons, and temporary accommodation centers.

    Muscovites and capital organizations collected aid in large batches. Before distribution, it was transferred to the regional branch of the Russian Red Cross, the headquarters

    At the Moscow Help headquarters, parcels for needy residents of the Kursk region are collected every day. Today, 15 collection points are open in the capital. City residents can choose the headquarters closest to their home or work, bring food for children and adults, personal hygiene products, new clothes and shoes, children’s goods and much more. A special volunteer corps has been created to collect and pack humanitarian aid. More than 16.5 thousand people have joined it.

    From December 1 to February 28, gifts for participants in the special military operation, children and animals were collected at the sites of the Winter in Moscow project. Residents and guests of the capital donated more than 35 thousand gifts to the Domiki Dobra.

    Organizing volunteer activities and engaging in city events are in line with the objectives of the national project “Youth and Children”and the federal project “We are together”.

    You can find out more about the volunteer movement in the capital on the resource center website “Mosvolonter”, on his social network page “VKontakte” And in the telegram channel.

    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.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/151438073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Surf therapy for children with disabilities: how it’s changing lives in South Africa

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Roxy Davis, Doctor of philosophy, University of Cape Town

    Children with disabilities face significant challenges in South Africa. Firstly there are delayed diagnoses which can lead to complications. The high cost of healthcare and little financial support for their families can limit their access to healthcare services altogether.

    There is also little access to rehabilitation services. Inadequate facilities and a shortage of trained personnel are just some of the obstacles.

    I started thinking about ways to get over these obstacles when I noticed that people with disabilities weren’t well represented in my sport.

    As a competitive surfer and instructor, I had always celebrated the ocean’s ability to inspire confidence and resilience.

    Every day, the beach was alive with activity – surfers, families and ocean lovers. Yet among them, I rarely saw people with disabilities in the water.

    I began to notice that the beachfront itself, the infrastructure, the culture, and even my own surf school, weren’t actively creating space for inclusivity.

    This would eventually become the cornerstone of the Roxy Davis Foundation, established in 2019, and later my doctoral research focusing on ocean-based therapy for children with disabilities.

    I found surf therapy enhanced the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of these children.

    New therapy

    Surf therapy teaches people with disabilities to surf to promote psychological, physical and psychosocial well-being.

    The first peer reviewed publication on surf therapy appeared in 2010 and focused on Aboriginal children in Australia. It was about mitigating the inter-generational trauma suffered as a result of the government-sanctioned removal of Aboriginal children from their families, a policy that only ended in the 1970s.

    In 2020 a review of a 10-year period included 29 studies into war veterans and young adult cancer survivors, among others.

    One such study focused on children with autism spectrum disorder. The study took place in the north-west of Ireland. Children said they felt happier and free, while their parents said they were more relaxed and confident.

    A South African study with children with autism spectrum disorder explored the feasibility and unique benefits of an existing surf therapy programme and reported largely positive results.

    My own research involved an adapted surf therapy programme for children with a range of disabilities.

    Five children aged between 12 and 16 were enrolled. Altogether there were 35 participants including parents, counsellors, volunteers, physiotherapists and surf instructors.

    Four of the five children were from under-resourced communities in South Africa’s Western Cape province and all had either a physical, sensory, intellectual or cognitive impairment.

    None of the children had taken part in ocean sports before.

    Getting into the water

    For six weeks the children took part in a three-hour surf therapy session on a Friday afternoon.

    The first goal was to get the kids in the water. We used mobility mats, surfboards with handles and amphibious beach wheelchairs to help.

    Each child was taught now to surf according to their pace of learning and ability.

    There was also a “surfers’ circle” with a discussion topic for each session.

    After six weeks we conducted follow-up interviews to see what changes the children had experienced, and if these had any influence on their lives outside surfing.

    We also asked parents and counsellors to identify the most significant changes in the children.

    ‘I felt free and confident’

    Final interviews were completed one year later.

    Charlie, aged 12, with cerebral palsy: “If my brothers want to go surfing I don’t have to stay behind and just watch them, I can go surf with them. It is so cool to surf with my dad and my brothers.”

    Charlie’s teacher: “His self-awareness level and how he sees himself in the world has really improved.”

    Tala, aged 15, with cerebal palsy: “Once I started surfing, I felt free and confident. Even in other spaces, when I’m not surfing, like, ‘Yeah I can surf, I can do something like surfing that I didn’t know that I could do before.’ ”

    Tala’s school psychologist: “She went into this feeling very insecure, nervous and anxious. She said she will always remember who she was and how she felt before she went to the programme and how she came out of it … to be able to use that feeling and apply it to a different situation, that’s huge for her.”

    Princess, aged 15, with spina bifida: was determined to “wean” herself off using nappies after gaining confidence through surf therapy.

    Princess’s guardian described her experience as similar to “winning a gold medal … She was more confident in herself than ever. She is off that nappy completely now.”

    Thabo, aged 14, a leg amputee: “Before session one, I was feeling nervous and excited, but as soon as I got in the sea, the nerves disappeared. You look and realise you can actually do that. I feel like I belong in the ocean.”

    After the final session he said: “I can relax, I can be in control of my urges and my temper. I’m now not always thinking about what people think about me. I can be myself in many ways.”

    Rowan, aged 15, a quadruple amputee: “Before I started surfing, I was thinking I can’t do it until I tried it and just being there was like beyond being able to speak in my wildest dreams. I couldn’t believe I could surf in the ocean riding some waves.

    “On my first session, I was like ‘If I can do it, I can do it for the rest of my life’.”

    In his second interview he said: “My goal is to become a national champion and to become a Paralympic champion.”

    One year after the surf therapy programme he entered a provincial parasurfing competition, which he won. He was then selected to participate in the South African Para Surfing Championships in 2022, where he came second. Later that year he was selected to represent South Africa at the World Para Surfing Championships in California. Nineteen months after starting surfing, in December, on his 16th birthday, he competed in the World Championships and was placed 17th.

    Surf therapy demonstrates what’s possible when we focus on ability rather than limitation.

    – Surf therapy for children with disabilities: how it’s changing lives in South Africa
    – https://theconversation.com/surf-therapy-for-children-with-disabilities-how-its-changing-lives-in-south-africa-245290

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Ethiopia’s war may have ended, but the Tigray crisis hasn’t

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Assefa Leake Gebru, Assistant Professor of Political Science and Strategic Studies , Mekelle University

    For over 20 years, Ethiopia was led by the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front, a coalition of four ethnic-based political parties representing Tigray, Amhara, Oromo, and Southern nations, nationalities and peoples. The Tigray People’s Liberation Front was the most influential party within the coalition. However, in 2018, when the Prosperity Party came into power, the front lost its important role in government.

    On 4 November 2020, the federal government launched an attack on Tigray, terming it a military offensive against political aggression from the Tigrayan front. This sparked a war that lasted two years, and caused severe damage to people and resources. The African Union’s lead mediator in the crisis, Olusegun Obasanjo, estimated about 600,000 civilians were killed. This makes it one of the most destructive conflicts of the 21st century.

    On 2 November 2022, the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front signed a peace deal in South Africa, the Pretoria agreement. More than two years later, however, Tigray still faces immense political and humanitarian challenges. Assefa Leake Gebru, who has studied post-war Tigray, explains what’s happening.

    What’s the current situation in Tigray?

    The 2022-2022 war and its lingering effects have thrown the Tigray region into chaos. People are grappling to get basics like food, water and medicine. The regional economy was devastated by the war. There have been no rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts so far. Humanitarian aid is limited. Imagine if your local grocery store ran out of everything and couldn’t restock – that’s the situation I have witnessed and studied in Tigray, which is affecting millions of residents.

    Additionally, the leaders of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front are now fighting among themselves for power. The division is mainly between two factions: one led by former regional president Debretsion Gebremichael and the other by Getachew Reda, who heads the interim administration.

    In January 2025, leaders of Tigray’s military forces supported calls from the Debretsion faction for new regional leadership. The interim administration opposed this, calling it a soft coup. The federal government considers the political faction led by Debretsion illegitimate. The military leaders’ decision also sparked public protests, with Tigrayans calling for a separation between the military and politics.

    This internal division has weakened the interim administration, which was installed as part of the Pretoria agreement in March 2023.

    Given this situation, the interim administration remains fragile amid serious humanitarian concerns and security threats facing the region. The interim government and dysfunctional law enforcement institutions aren’t strong enough to fix things.

    Read more: What is federalism? Why Ethiopia uses this system of government and why it’s not perfect

    Economically, jobs remain scarce. A 2024 survey found a youth unemployment rate of 81%. This situation has been created by economic collapse, asset plunder during the war and the absence of a functioning government.

    Socially, people are stressed and hurting, like a community still reeling from a major fallout. It’s a pile-up of problems that are making life incredibly tough.

    What, exactly, is the Pretoria agreement?

    The Pretoria agreement is an important peace deal between Tigray’s political leaders and the federal government. It was signed in Pretoria, South Africa, on 2 November 2022. The African Union facilitated the peace talks hosted by South Africa.

    The goal of the agreement? End the violence that began in 2020, keep people safe by calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities, allow aid like food trucks to roll in, disarm Tigray fighters and set up an interim government to restore order.

    It also aimed to re-establish the Ethiopian government’s control over federal installations in Tigray.

    What has been implemented and what hasn’t?

    There has been some positive progress. The Pretoria agreement established the interim government. Some everyday services are back, like banks reopening and planes flying again. A few Tigray fighters have put down their weapons.

    But here’s where it gets messy. Soldiers from Eritrea – which supported the Ethiopian army in the Tigray war – and militias from another Ethiopian region, Amhara, are still hanging around Tigray, raising security threats. They’re preventing internally displaced persons from going back home.

    The plan to fully disarm Tigrayan fighters hasn’t been completed either. This threatens regional stability, undermines peace efforts and increases the risk of renewed violence.

    What are the implications of not fully executing the Pretoria agreement?

    First, the region’s humanitarian crisis could worsen. An estimated one million displaced people are grappling with high levels of food insecurity, and thousands of schools remain closed. A weak interim government and the continued occupation of parts of Tigray by armed groups has hindered the restoration of services and stifled economic progress.

    Second, the division within the Tigray People’s Liberation Front makes it hard to lead the region under an interim administration. A lack of consensus on power-sharing has hindered effective governance, undermining the intended transitional authority.

    Third, a weak interim government can’t keep civilians safe, which was a pillar of the Pretoria agreement. Economically, the lack of jobs and skyrocketing prices are hitting Tigrayans hard. Socially, everyone’s on edge.

    Finally, there’s a risk of igniting further conflict in the region along the political fault lines between Debretsion and Getachew. There is a high chance of this situation being manipulated by Eritrean forces, who weren’t involved in the negotiations that led to the Pretoria agreement. The fractures in the interim government provide an opportunity for neighbouring Eritrea to support one faction against the other, which could escalate into war between Ethiopia and Eritrea. The Tigray People’s Liberation Front has been one of Eritrea’s bitterest enemies. The antagonism between the two led to the 1998-2000 war between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

    If these tensions keep up, Tigray will remain stuck in an awful cycle. The African Union and international community must address these issues to prevent a spiral into further chaos.

    – Ethiopia’s war may have ended, but the Tigray crisis hasn’t
    – https://theconversation.com/ethiopias-war-may-have-ended-but-the-tigray-crisis-hasnt-251846

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Asian Development Review: Volume 42, Number 1

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    The opening article underscores the importance of knowledge sharing among city governments. Other articles discuss how urban green spaces can reduce flooding and the burning of waste, how growing mungbeans can reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers, and how internet access can increase farmers’ incomes. Authors also examine trade costs in Central Asia and participation in global value chains.

    For print subscription, e-mail: [email protected]

    Using a newly constructed index of trade openness, this paper finds a significant direct effect of openness on poverty reduction.

    Open Submissions

    This paper exploits the staggered roll-out of a landmark Air Quality Monitoring Program in the People’s Republic of China to study the migration response to pollution information disclosure and labor market outcomes.

    This study explores how local elites’ traits influence environmental performance, both before and after the amendment to the Environmental Protection Law.

    This study investigates the impact of green open spaces in reducing the probability of flooding and open waste burning in urban areas in Indonesia’s three largest metropolitan cities: Surabaya, Jakarta, and Medan.

    This paper studies participation by developing Asian economies in global value chains (GVCs) and uses an input–output framework to measure the impacts that GVCs of final manufactured products have on jobs and income.

    This paper investigates whether engagement with e-commerce is linked to increased sales and productivity gains for informal firms in South Asia.

    This study in Nepal assesses the determinants of mungbean adoption and its impact on fertilizer use, agricultural productivity, and food security.

    This paper measures the impact of a micronutrient training among women farmers with young children on the demand for zinc-enhanced varieties.

    This study examines the association between internet use in agriculture and farm earnings in Indonesia.

    This paper identifies and examines income shock and price shock channels through which climatic disasters affect domestic consumption in the case of Bangladesh.

    Mini Symposium on Trade Costs in Central Asia

    This paper analyzes the impact of trade costs on the exports in five Central Asian countries using a structural gravity model and Corridor Performance Measurement and Monitoring trade cost indicators.

    This study examines the effects of at-the-border and behind-the-border measures on the intraregional perishable goods trade in the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation region.

    This paper examines the effect of COVID-19 mobility measures on the time required for cargo to clear the border crossing points of Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation countries.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –