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  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Human Rights Committee Adopts Reports on Follow-Up to Concluding Observations Concerning Armenia and Germany

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Human Rights Committee today adopted reports on follow-up to concluding observations concerning Armenia and Germany.

    Yvonne Donders, Committee Expert and the Special Rapporteur on follow-up to concluding observations, presented the assessment of the responses provided by Armenia and Germany. The overall recommended action for the two assessments was to send a letter to each of the States parties informing them of the discontinuation of the follow-up procedure and that further information requested by the Committee should be addressed in their next periodic reports, which were due in 2028 for all States parties under assessment.

    Regarding Armenia, the Committee focused on three recommendations concerning violence against women; the right of peaceful assembly and excessive use of force; and participation in public affairs.  On violence against women, the Committee welcomed amendments made to the “law on domestic violence” by the State party, as well as the “SafeYou” mobile application, allowing victims of violence to promptly receive support.  However, the Committee was concerned about reports of the discriminatory application of protection orders, the lack of concrete information on the means of redress provided to victims, as well as reports indicating that misconceptions and stereotypes regarding women and domestic violence persisted.

    Armenia was therefore recommended to revise the law on domestic violence to ensure a victim-centred approach; establish an effective mechanism to encourage the reporting of cases of violence against women and intensify efforts to address the social stigmatisation of victims; ensure that all cases of violence against women were promptly and thoroughly investigated, and that victims had access to effective remedies and means of protection; and to consider ratifying the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combatting Violence against Women and Domestic Violence. 

    On excessive use of force, the Committee welcomed the adoption of the legislation on the Police Guard and amendments to the law on freedom of assembly, as well as the efforts taken to provide training to law enforcement officers on the use of force.  However, it regretted the reports of the continued disproportionate use of force by police and obstruction of and violence against journalists during protests. 

    Armenia was urged to strengthen its efforts to ensure that all law enforcement officers found responsible for excessive use of force during the events in March 2008, June 2015, July 2016 and April 2018, were held accountable and appropriately sanctioned, and that all the victims received adequate compensation and rehabilitation; to review the amendments to the law on freedom of assemblies to bring it into conformity with the Covenant; to refrain from undue interference with assembly participants and reduce police presence at peaceful demonstrations; ensure that impartial and thorough investigations were undertaken by the public prosecutor’s office into all allegations of the excessive use of force and arbitrary arrest and detention by State agents at protests; and to ensure that domestic laws and regulations on the use of force were in full conformity with international standards. 

    On participation in public affairs, the Committee welcomed the legislative package submitted to the National Assembly proposing amendments to the Electoral Code, including measures to increase the accessibility of polling stations for persons with disabilities.  However, it was concerned about information indicating that institutional barriers to political participation of persons with disabilities remained, including legal restrictions which denied persons recognised by a court as “incapacitated” the right to elect and to be elected and the right to participate in referendums.

    Armenia was called on to ensure that the mandatory disclosure of campaign financing information was fully respected to improve transparency and create equal conditions for the campaign; revise the limitations on the right to stand for presidential and legislative elections; and ensure full accessibility of polling stations for persons with disabilities.

    Committee Experts thanked the Special Rapporteur for her report and underscored how vital the follow-up procedure was to the work of the Committee.  Experts said Armenia had made substantial progress with respect to improving the legal framework, but still had work to do with implementation and effectiveness.  It was troubling that investigations in the State party were pending for more than 10 years. 

    In response, Ms. Donders agreed that it was serious that investigations in Armenia were pending after so many years.

    Concerning Germany, the Committee noted three recommendations, including on intersex persons, institutional care, and on the right to privacy.  For intersex children, the Committee welcomed that a review was under way to evaluate how to further improve safeguards for intersex children, and that a review of the new provisions under the act on the protection of children with variations in sexual development would take place within five years from its adoption.  However, it regretted the lack of information provided regarding compliance and implementation of the act and the provision of remedies in practice.

    Germany was recommended to ensure that all acts relating to the assignment of a sex to intersex children performed without their free and informed consent were specifically prohibited, except in cases where such interventions were absolutely necessary for medical reasons and the best interests of the child had been duly taken into account, including the consideration of amendments to the law on the protection of children with variations in sex development of 2021.  Germany should also ensure that all victims had access to remedies, and ensure that all victims had access to their health records and consider establishing a dedicated compensation fund.

    On institutional care, the Committee welcomed the 2022 resolution on protection from violence for people in need of care, which initiated efforts to develop practical safeguards, but regretted the absence of data on inspections of care facilities, and the outcomes and the sanctions imposed in relation to the use of physical and chemical restraints.  The Committee also noted with satisfaction that the mental health acts of the Länder were becoming increasingly uniform in the areas of physical restraint and compulsory medication but regretted the lack of information on further steps taken to harmonise the legal standards in the different Länder on the involuntary hospitalization and forced committal of those with psychosocial disabilities. Furthermore, while welcoming the replacement of former section 1905 of the Civil Code with new section 1830 through the act to reform the law on guardianship, the Committee regretted that the legislation still provided for circumstances under which the forced sterilisation of adults with disabilities remained permissible.

    The Committee recommended that Germany should continue efforts to monitor, prevent and eradicate the use of physical and chemical restraints in institutional care settings, as well as all forms of abuse against older persons and those with psychosocial disabilities in these institutions; consider further harmonising the legal standards in the different Länder on the involuntary hospitalisation and forced committal of those with psychosocial disabilities; remove any exception in the law to the ban on the forced sterilisation of adults with disabilities; and consider increasing the availability of specific complaints mechanisms to receive, investigate and facilitate the prosecution and punishment of those responsible for all forms of abuse in institutional care settings.

    On the right to privacy, the Committee welcomed Germany’s efforts to ensure that all types of surveillance activities and interference with privacy were in full conformity with the Covenant, including the reforms of the federal intelligence service act, and legislative amendments made in response to decisions of the Federal Constitutional Court, including the establishment of the Independent Control Council in 2022.  However, the Committee regretted the lack of concrete information on the practical implementation of the federal intelligence service act. 

    The Committee recommended that Germany should ensure that all types of surveillance activities and interference with privacy were in full conformity with the Covenant, complying with the principles of legality, proportionality and necessity and subject to judicial authorisation.  Germany should also ensure that surveillance was subject to effective independent oversight mechanisms, namely judicial mechanisms, and ensure access to effective remedies in cases of abuse.

    Committee Experts welcomed that Germany had been on time in presenting its information on the three recommendations.  However, the State party had the resources and capacity to provide the data requested of them by the Committee.  The State party had taken positive steps, but questions remained around implementation. 

    In response, Ms. Donders said Germany had taken substantive legislative reforms, among other activities, and was optimistic that the State party would provide additional information and data requested by the Committee. 

    In closing, Changrok Soh, Committee Chairperson, expressed gratitude to the Special Rapporteur and other Experts for their dedication and commitment. 

    The draft reports were adopted by the Committee as amended during the discussion and will be available on the web page dedicated to the follow-up procedure for concluding observations.

    The Human Rights Committee’s one hundred and forty-fourth session is being held from 23 June to 17 July 2025.  All the documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage.  Meeting summary releases can be found here.  The webcast of the Committee’s public meetings can be accessed via the UN Web TV webpage.

    The Committee will next meet in public at 4 p.m. on Thursday, 17 July to close its one hundred and forty-fourth session. 

    ___________

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media; 
    not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

     

    CCPR25.018E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Compatibility of northern extension of A33 motorway with Habitats Directive and Natura 2000 site’s conservation objectives – E-002789/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002789/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Jutta Paulus (Verts/ALE)

    In its answer to written question E-001537/2025[1], the Commission mentions its competence to issue an opinion under the second subparagraph of Article 6(4) of Directive 92/43/EEC (the Habitats Directive) for projects affecting priority habitat types such as 91E0*. Against this background, reference is made to Germany’s plans to build a new northern section of the A33 motorway in the Osnabrück area. The extension will cross the Wiehengebirge bat habitat near Osnabrück (Natura site DE3614334) and is likely to have a significant impact on the priority habitat type 91E0*, most notably because of the increased nitrogen pollution from road traffic. According to the press, the project has been submitted to the Commission for assessment.

    • 1.In order to carry out a comprehensive assessment, has the Commission assumed that all relevant documents concerning the conservation area, including any objections from public participation, have been submitted by the Member State?
    • 2.When drafting its opinion, has it take account of whether the site conservation objectives have been set in accordance with the provisions of the Habitats Directive and the ECJ case-law?
    • 3.Does it agree that, given the constant nitrogen pollution the conservation area will likely be exposed to, a permanent speed limit needs to be considered as a necessary mitigation measure under Article 6(3) of the Habitats Directive?

    Submitted: 9.7.2025

    • [1] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-10-2025-001537-ASW_EN.html
    Last updated: 16 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Concerns regarding potential binding electric vehicle mandates for corporate fleets and the impact on EU competitiveness – E-002744/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002744/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Zala Tomašič (PPE)

    On 5 March 2025, the Commission published a communication on decarbonising corporate fleets, with a legislative proposal expected by year-end. There are indications that the Commission is considering binding electric vehicle (EV) purchase mandates for EU corporate fleets. Such mandates could significantly affect fleet operators and customers across vehicle segments – passenger cars, vans, heavy-duty vehicles, buses and coaches – and have major implications for the competitiveness of Europe’s vehicle manufacturers and suppliers.

    In light of this:

    • 1.Will the Commission ensure – through a full impact assessment, Regulatory Scrutiny Board review, and SME and competitiveness checks – that the principles of proportionality, subsidiarity, and Better Regulation are upheld in this proposal – while also clarifying how technological neutrality will be maintained, particularly regarding the role of plug-in hybrid vehicles and whether they will count towards compliance?
    • 2.Will the Commission impose binding EV quotas despite concerns over flexibility, infrastructure gaps and operational viability, and how does it intend to define ‘corporate fleets’ – including whether businesses whose operations depend on vehicles (e.g. logistics) will be covered – while also addressing the associated risks of EV devaluation and declining resale values?
    • 3.What measures will be taken to assess and mitigate the impact of any purchase mandates on the competitiveness of the European automotive industry and its supply chain?

    Supporters[1]

    Submitted: 2.7.2025

    • [1] This question is supported by Members other than the author: Ondřej Krutílek (ECR), Paulius Saudargas (PPE), Christine Singer (Renew), Sophia Kircher (PPE), Angelika Niebler (PPE), Matej Tonin (PPE), Alexandra Mehnert (PPE), Jens Gieseke (PPE)
    Last updated: 16 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Unusable stocks following the entry into force of the Commission’s proposed legislation on lead ammunition – E-002811/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002811/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Riho Terras (PPE)

    The EC’s proposed legislation on lead ammunition draws a distinction between ‘large-calibre’ (≥ 5.6 mm) and ‘small-calibre’ (

    As lead ammunition cannot simply be discarded or repurposed, mainly on account of its explosive components, after the proposed transitional period of 18 months, producers, sellers and users would be left with significant unusable stocks of lead-based centrefire ammunition.

    Could the Commission explain whether appropriate compensation mechanisms have been considered for affected stakeholders, who would suffer financial losses as a result of being left with unusable stocks of lead-based centrefire ammunition after 18 months?

    Submitted: 9.7.2025

    Last updated: 16 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Press release – Cohesion funding: deal on mid-term update responding to new challenges

    Source: European Parliament

    Parliament and Council teams have reached an agreement on new priorities for and modifications to the current cycle of EU cohesion funding.

    Negotiators from Parliament and the Danish Council Presidency have agreed provisionally on a mid-term update to the EU’s current cycle of cohesion policy funding, which aims to reduce regional inequalities through the European Regional Development Fund, the Cohesion Fund and the Just Transition Fund.

    The changes will offer member states and regions more flexibility to channel funds into new objectives, namely defence industrial capabilities and military mobility, water resilience, affordable housing, decarbonisation, strategic technologies, and energy infrastructure. The reform also allows for extra support for EU regions bordering Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, highlighting their special needs in a tense geopolitical environment.

    To inject liquidity quickly into the new priorities, it was agreed that this spending can benefit from i.a. co-financing rates 10 percentage points higher than normal and of 20% one-off pre-financing for amounts re-allocated in 2026.


    Investment in civil preparedness and dual-use infrastructure

    MEPs secured several adjustments to the new priorities. According to the agreement, civil preparedness investments will be eligible for support, and dual-use infrastructure (suitable for both civilian and military use) will be prioritised when funding the defence industry and military mobility. When it comes to affordable housing, sustainability of the housing stock will be taken into account, and water resilience priorities will be aligned with the European water resilience strategy, including investments in irrigation and desalination.

    To ensure that cohesion policy maintains its focus on small and medium-sized enterprises and less favoured regions, it was agreed that the strategic technology investments of large companies can only be supported in EU areas with lower-than-average gross domestic product per capita.

    The agreement also includes language on rule of law conditionality, ensuring that funds frozen because of breaches of EU values cannot be reallocated to the new priorities.


    Quote

    After the vote, rapporteur and Committee Chair Dragoș Benea (S&D, Romania) said: “We currently face several uncertainties, and this reform is part of our European response, strengthening our industrial base, technology sector, and sustainable and affordable housing stock. It will also help regions manage their water resources, preventing and responding to floods and droughts, and continue the process of decarbonisation. Today’s agreement ensures that while we adjust cohesion policy to meet the challenges of the moment, it also remains a cornerstone of European integration and solidarity, bridging differences and delivering for all citizens – no matter which region they live in.”


    Background

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

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Netherlands: EIB, Rabobank, and DLL partner to provide €1 billion for European SMEs with a focus on sustainability and agriculture

    Source: European Investment Bank

    EIB

    • The European Investment Bank signs two €250 million loan facilities with Rabobank and its subsidiary DLL, aimed at supporting access to finance for European companies.
    • The Rabobank facility targets SMEs and mid-caps in the Netherlands committed to investing in the energy transition and enhancing their organizational sustainability.
    • The DLL facility provides access to finance, in multiple EU countries, to SMEs and mid-caps focused on climate action and sustainability, with an emphasis on circularity, food, and energy transitions.

    Rabobank, DLL, and the European Investment Bank are partnering to increase access to finance for SMEs and mid-caps with a particular emphasis on sustainability and bioeconomy sectors, including agriculture.

    Rabobank will borrow €250 million from the EIB and match this amount with its own funds, making €500 million available to support small-scale projects undertaken by Dutch SMEs and mid-caps, with a focus on sustainability and agriculture. Specifically, at least 40% of investments are earmarked for climate-relevant investments, and at least 40% of the available funding will be directed towards bioeconomy sectors, including agriculture.

    DLL has secured an additional €250 million, which it will also match with its own funds, aiming to improve access to finance for SMEs and mid-caps across the EU. The focus will be on France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Sweden, Poland, Ireland, and the Netherlands, targeting investments in sustainability by local companies.

    In total, the combined EIB loans as well as Rabobank and DLL’s matching funds will make €1 billion in new funding available for SMEs and mid-caps, with a particular focus on financing climate-relevant and agricultural projects.

    “It is important to understand that climate financing is a key driver of economic growth,” states EIB Vice President Robert de Groot. “We have to look at the bigger picture, which is that climate change is disrupting business and economic behaviours. We have a long track-record with Rabobank and DLL in terms of climate relevant financing, and hope that this facility can convince other financiers to make available more support for entrepreneurs developing more sustainable projects.”

    Carlo van Kemenade, Director Retail NL and Member of the Managing Board of Rabobank: “We are proud to build on the successful partnership with the EIB and the new launch of impact loans. Sustainability is an important pillar of Rabobank’s strategy. Clients are also very positive about this impact loan. The interest rate discount is both a reward for the impact they have as a leader in sustainability and an encouragement to continue on the path we have set with our clients.”

    “As a transition partner for a better world, DLL believes that sustainability is fundamental to long-term business success,” says Lara Yocarini, Member of the Managing Board, Rabobank, and CEO and Chair of the Executive Board of DLL. “The attractive funding from the European Investment Bank will enhance our ability to provide more accessible, affordable, and tailored leasing solutions, ultimately reducing barriers for our partners and customers to invest in more sustainable equipment and technology.”

    Background information:

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. It makes long-term finance available for sound investment in order to contribute towards EU policy goals. Over the last ten years, the EIB has made available more than €27 billion in financing for Dutch projects in various sectors, including research & development, transport, drinking water, healthcare, and SMEs.

    The EIB is the European Union’s bank; the only bank owned by and representing the interests of the European Union Member States, The Netherlands owns a 5,2% share of the EIB. It works closely with other EU institutions to implement EU policy and is the world’s largest multilateral borrower and lender. The EIB provides finance and expertise for sustainable investment projects that contribute to EU policy objectives. More than 90% of its activity is in Europe.

    About Rabobank

    Rabobank is an international financial services provider operating on the basis of cooperative principles. It offers retail banking, wholesale banking, private banking, leasing, and real estate services. As a cooperative bank, Rabobank puts customers’ interests first in its services. Rabobank is committed to being a leading customer-focused cooperative bank in the Netherlands and a leading food and agri bank worldwide. Rabobank employed 49,000 FTE per 31 December 2024. Rabobank Group is active in 37 countries.

    About DLL

    DLL is a global asset finance company for equipment and technology with a managed portfolio of more than EUR 47 billion. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, DLL provides financial solutions within the Agriculture, Construction, Energy Transition, Food, Healthcare, Industrial, Technology, Transportation, and Workplace industries in more than 25 countries. The company partners with equipment manufacturers, dealers, and distributors to enable easier access to equipment, technology, and software, to support business growth.

    DLL is committed to a more sustainable future for the environment and the communities in which it operates. Combining customer focus and industry knowledge, DLL provides financial solutions for the complete asset life cycle, including commercial finance, retail finance and used equipment finance. DLL is a wholly owned subsidiary of Rabobank Group.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Conflict of interest and political influence in CBAM expert groups – E-002769/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002769/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Barbara Bonte (PfE)

    In June 2025, German newspaper Die Welt revealed that several EU-funded NGOs, including Carbon Market Watch, the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) and ECOS, actively participated in the work of CBAM expert groups, which help shape policy regarding the carbon border adjustment mechanism. These organisations received substantial grants from the Commission and, in some cases, the funding accounted for more than a quarter of their total budget. At the same time, representatives of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have been excluded from these groups time and time again, despite the fact that they are directly concerned by the impact of CBAM. These practices raise serious questions about conflicts of interest and deliberate policy manipulation.

    • 1.Why did the Commission prioritise self-funded NGOs in the composition of CBAM expert groups, and on what grounds were SMEs structurally excluded?
    • 2.How does the Commission ensure impartiality when it funds organisations that simultaneously participate in the work of expert groups which are devising policy?
    • 3.Will the Commission provide full transparency on these practices and agree to an independent investigation into conflicts of interest and political influence in the composition and operation of CBAM expert groups?

    Submitted: 8.7.2025

    Last updated: 16 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Registration and ownership fees for combustion-engine cars as set out in the milestones of Poland’s national recovery plan – E-002626/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002626/2025/rev.1
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Anna Bryłka (PfE)

    The milestones laid out in the Annex to the Proposal for a Council Implementing Decision amending Implementing Decision (EU) (ST 9728/22 INIT; ST/9728/22 ADD 1) of 17 June 2022 on the approval of the assessment of the recovery and resilience plan for Poland introduce an obligation to pay a registration fee and ownership tax for emissions-related vehicles, in line with the ‘polluter pays’ principle.

    Considering the above, can the Commission clarify:

    • 1.How will Poland fulfil milestone E3G concerning the entry into force of a legal act introducing a registration fee for emissions-related vehicles in line with the ‘polluter pays principle’ when this enters into force in Poland?
    • 2.How will Poland fulfil milestone E4G concerning the entry into force of a legal act introducing an ownership tax on emissions-related vehicles in line with the ‘polluter pays principle’ when this enters into force in Poland?
    • 3.Has Poland negotiated the removal of milestones E3G and E4G with the Commission?

    Submitted: 30.6.2025

    Last updated: 16 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – The systematic use of wet leasing by airlines and its impact on labour rights – P-002816/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Priority question for written answer  P-002816/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Rosa Serrano Sierra (S&D), Idoia Mendia (S&D), Alicia Homs Ginel (S&D)

    Many airlines operating in the EU systematically subcontract flights during peak months (particularly in the summer) to low-cost carriers, who provide the aircraft and crew and are also responsible for maintenance- and insurance-related arrangements. Known as wet leasing, this practice has become standard among operators looking to cut down on labour and operating costs.

    Many reports indicate that wet-lease staff are working in precarious conditions, the result of false self-employment contracts and ambiguous labour agreements which circumvent national legislation and violate European social and labour protection standards. This practice is undermining working standards in the aviation sector and fostering unfair competition among its operators.

    There are also repercussions for the passengers, who pay for flights without knowing that they have been subcontracted and are not told in advance of the change in service arrangements, a state of affairs which violates their consumer rights and reduces market transparency.

    In the light of the above, and of the fact that national authorities are struggling to implement EU rules:

    • 1.Has the Commission detected a rise in the use of wet leasing in the EU?
    • 2.What measures will it enact to close the legal loopholes that enable companies to use this practice?
    • 3.Will wet leasing be addressed when Regulation (EC) No 1008/2008 is reviewed?

    Submitted: 10.7.2025

    Last updated: 16 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Chinese carmakers bypassing import duties – E-002770/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002770/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Barbara Bonte (PfE)

    Chinese carmakers have been boosting their sales figures for years by exporting new cars as used cars. That way, they pay lower import duties. The Chinese Government is aware of these practices and encourages such trade.

    According to the China Passenger Car Association, China exported a total of 6.41 million vehicles last year. According to estimates by Wang Meng, a consultant at the China Automobile Dealers Association, about 6 % of these are new vehicles sold as used cars.

    • 1.Is the Commission aware of these practices?
    • 2.What concrete measures is the Commission taking to stop this form of cheap dumping?
    • 3.What is the total amount of import duties not collected as a result of this practice?

    Submitted: 8.7.2025

    Last updated: 16 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Press release – Deal on more funding to boost skills development and address new challenges

    Source: European Parliament

    Parliament and Council negotiators have reached a provisional agreement on changes to the European Social Fund+ to boost skills in the defence and decarbonisation industries.

    The co-legislators agreed to support EU-countries using ESF+ funding for skills development in the defence sector and decarbonising industries. Regions bordering Russia, Belarus and Ukraine will also receive additional support, highlighting their special needs in a tense geopolitical environment.

    Under the new rules, EU-countries would receive additional pre-financing of 1.5% based on their amended programme budget if they allocate at least 10% of resources to the new priority skills in civil preparedness and the defence industry, and to decarbonisation. Regions bordering Russia, Belarus, or Ukraine can receive up to 9.5% pre-financing.

    In addition to the pre-financing, EU-countries can benefit from a maximum co-financing rate for the dedicated priorities that is 10 percentage points higher than current ones and from 20% exceptional pre-financing.

    When amending their existing programmes, EU-countries will have to include obligations to ensure that beneficiaries respect certain working and employment conditions. The new law ensures that micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises will have priority access to the fund to help them develop skills under the new priorities. The agreement also includes language on rule of law conditionality, ensuring that funds frozen because of breaches of EU values cannot be reallocated until the conditions are fulfilled.

    Quote

    Rapporteur is discussing similar proposals in the context of the European Regional Development Fund, the Cohesion Fund and the Just Transition Fun

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • Beacon of inspiration: Union Cabinet hails Shubhanshu Shukla’s return from ISS

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday passed a resolution celebrating the safe return of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla from the International Space Station (ISS), calling it “a moment of pride, glory, and joy for the entire nation.”

    Shukla, part of the four-member Axiom-4 crew, returned to Earth on Tuesday aboard SpaceX’s Dragon capsule after spending 18 days in orbit. With this mission, Shukla became the first Indian astronaut to visit the ISS and only the second Indian to travel to space, four decades after Rakesh Sharma’s historic 1984 mission.

    Hailing the milestone as a “watershed moment” for the country, the Cabinet said the mission heralds a new chapter in India’s space programme and offers a preview of what lies ahead in its human spaceflight ambitions.

    “This successful mission significantly elevates India’s global standing in space exploration,” the resolution stated. “It is a vital stepping stone towards India’s own human spaceflight programme, including the Gaganyaan and the Bharatiya Antariksha Station. It reaffirms India’s resolve to be at the forefront of human space exploration.”

    The Cabinet underlined India’s growing role in global space cooperation, particularly through the scientific experiments conducted by Shukla aboard the ISS.

    He carried out a series of pioneering microgravity studies on muscle regeneration, algal and microbial growth, crop viability, microbial survivability, cognitive performance in space, and the behaviour of cyanobacteria. The resolution noted that these experiments will significantly enhance the global scientific understanding of human spaceflight and microgravity environments, while also contributing valuable insights for India’s future space missions.

    The resolution credited Prime Minister Modi’s “visionary and decisive leadership” for enabling India’s recent space achievements and for pushing the country to the frontlines of space exploration. It recalled with pride the successful Chandrayaan-3 mission, which made India the first country to land near the Moon’s South Pole on August 23, 2023, a date now commemorated as National Space Day. It also highlighted the success of the Aditya-L1 solar mission, which has advanced global understanding of solar activity and its effects.

    Pointing to the transformation of India’s space economy, the Cabinet noted that structural reforms in the sector have led to the emergence of around 300 space-tech start-ups.

    “The emergence of around 300 new start-ups in this sector has not only led to job creation at a large scale, but also nurtured a vibrant ecosystem of innovation, entrepreneurship and technology-driven development,” the resolution said.

    More than a personal triumph, the Cabinet described Shukla’s mission as a “beacon of inspiration” for the youth of India. “It will ignite scientific temper, fuel curiosity, and inspire countless young Indians to pursue careers in science and embrace innovation,” the resolution said.

    “The Cabinet reaffirms its firm conviction that this mission will energise the national resolve to build Viksit Bharat—a Developed India—by 2047, as envisioned by the Prime Minister,” it added.

  • MIL-OSI Banking: OEUK news OEUK: Next offshore wind allocation round must raise 8.4 GW to move UK closer to Clean Power 2030 goals 16 July 2025

    Source: Offshore Energy UK

    Headline: OEUK news

    OEUK: Next offshore wind allocation round must raise 8.4 GW to move UK closer to Clean Power 2030 goals

    16 July 2025

    Accessibility Statement

    • oeuk.org.uk
    • 16 July 2025

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    If you’ve found a malfunction or have ideas for improvement, we’ll be happy to hear from you. You can reach out to the website’s operators by using the following email [email protected]

    Screen-reader and keyboard navigation

    Our website implements the ARIA attributes (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) technique, alongside various different behavioral changes, to ensure blind users visiting with screen-readers are able to read, comprehend, and enjoy the website’s functions. As soon as a user with a screen-reader enters your site, they immediately receive a prompt to enter the Screen-Reader Profile so they can browse and operate your site effectively. Here’s how our website covers some of the most important screen-reader requirements, alongside console screenshots of code examples:

    1. Screen-reader optimization: we run a background process that learns the website’s components from top to bottom, to ensure ongoing compliance even when updating the website. In this process, we provide screen-readers with meaningful data using the ARIA set of attributes. For example, we provide accurate form labels; descriptions for actionable icons (social media icons, search icons, cart icons, etc.); validation guidance for form inputs; element roles such as buttons, menus, modal dialogues (popups), and others. Additionally, the background process scans all the website’s images and provides an accurate and meaningful image-object-recognition-based description as an ALT (alternate text) tag for images that are not described. It will also extract texts that are embedded within the image, using an OCR (optical character recognition) technology. To turn on screen-reader adjustments at any time, users need only to press the Alt+1 keyboard combination. Screen-reader users also get automatic announcements to turn the Screen-reader mode on as soon as they enter the website.

      These adjustments are compatible with all popular screen readers, including JAWS and NVDA.

    2. Keyboard navigation optimization: The background process also adjusts the website’s HTML, and adds various behaviors using JavaScript code to make the website operable by the keyboard. This includes the ability to navigate the website using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, operate dropdowns with the arrow keys, close them with Esc, trigger buttons and links using the Enter key, navigate between radio and checkbox elements using the arrow keys, and fill them in with the Spacebar or Enter key.Additionally, keyboard users will find quick-navigation and content-skip menus, available at any time by clicking Alt+1, or as the first elements of the site while navigating with the keyboard. The background process also handles triggered popups by moving the keyboard focus towards them as soon as they appear, and not allow the focus drift outside it.

      Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.

    Disability profiles supported in our website

    • Epilepsy Safe Mode: this profile enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
    • Visually Impaired Mode: this mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
    • Cognitive Disability Mode: this mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
    • ADHD Friendly Mode: this mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
    • Blindness Mode: this mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
    • Keyboard Navigation Profile (Motor-Impaired): this profile enables motor-impaired persons to operate the website using the keyboard Tab, Shift+Tab, and the Enter keys. Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.

    Additional UI, design, and readability adjustments

    1. Font adjustments – users, can increase and decrease its size, change its family (type), adjust the spacing, alignment, line height, and more.
    2. Color adjustments – users can select various color contrast profiles such as light, dark, inverted, and monochrome. Additionally, users can swap color schemes of titles, texts, and backgrounds, with over seven different coloring options.
    3. Animations – person with epilepsy can stop all running animations with the click of a button. Animations controlled by the interface include videos, GIFs, and CSS flashing transitions.
    4. Content highlighting – users can choose to emphasize important elements such as links and titles. They can also choose to highlight focused or hovered elements only.
    5. Audio muting – users with hearing devices may experience headaches or other issues due to automatic audio playing. This option lets users mute the entire website instantly.
    6. Cognitive disorders – we utilize a search engine that is linked to Wikipedia and Wiktionary, allowing people with cognitive disorders to decipher meanings of phrases, initials, slang, and others.
    7. Additional functions – we provide users the option to change cursor color and size, use a printing mode, enable a virtual keyboard, and many other functions.

    Browser and assistive technology compatibility

    We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers).

    Notes, comments, and feedback

    Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs. There may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to [email protected]

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Food Minister Daniel Zeichner: Good Food Cycle speech

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    Food Minister Daniel Zeichner: Good Food Cycle speech

    Speech by Food Minister Daniel Zeichner launching the Good Food Cycle at Darley Street Market in Bradford.

    Well, good afternoon everybody and thank you. First of all, thank you to Andrew, and to all our brilliant contributors – really fantastic.

    Politicians often say they’re really pleased to be in places. And I am pleased to be in places – but I have been really thrilled to be here. I’ve not been to Bradford before, and I’ve been absolutely knocked out by what I’ve seen this morning. I’m so pleased to be here.

    I’m told you’re one of the UK’s youngest, most diverse, and dynamic cities. I represent Cambridge, and we probably could have a little discussion about that – but I think you may be winning! What I know for sure is that you’ve got a rich food culture here. I’ve been seeing it outside, I’ve been hearing about it, and I’m so thrilled that we made the decision that Bradford should be the place to come and talk about the government’s vision for our food system. What we’re calling the Good Food Cycle.

    And I hope that’s a phrase that will stick in your minds – because that’s what this is all about.

    Let me start, though, by thanking some of the people who’ve made this morning possible: Bradford 2025, the local council – I’m delighted to be here working with you – and Inn Churches. Very impressed by the work you’re doing.

    I’ve heard about Jamie Oliver’s Ministry of Food, I’ve seen some of the demonstrations that are being done outside with some of the children – I’ve met some of the children – who are extraordinarily confident and well-informed about raw beans! Very good for them!

    Living Well, the wider community, all the efforts being made to empower, educate, and inspire as many people as possible to cook great-tasting, healthy food for themselves and their families. I think this project here, which I’ve been hearing about – clearly a long time in the making – what a fantastic achievement in this year of 2025.

    It really does show how communities, local government, food producers and processors can work together for the community. Because it shows that good, healthy food can be accessible to everyone, and help bring communities together.

    And just in my brief tour around, I could see how that’s being brought to life.

    I’m told it’s £31 million of investment into the heart of Bradford – it shows what can be done to support local food producers, what you’re making, and how we used to have those strong local food production systems. What a chance to re-energise that!

    But of course, this sits in a wider context – one that includes household-name food businesses with a national footprint, like Morrisons, like Marks and Spencer. They all play a part in our national food system.

    And let’s pay tribute to that national food system, because it is one of the most extraordinary and advanced in the world. Huge, huge things. I remember, I was the shadow minister during the Covid crisis, and there was a point where it wasn’t entirely clear that we could carry on feeding the nation. But people stepped up. And it really showed what an amazing system this is.

    But we also have to be aware that the current food system does have some challenges.

    Henry Dimbleby – a lot of you will be aware – did a lot of work a few years ago on this. He called it the junk food cycle. Which, at one level, is harsh. But what he was pointing out was that there are internal dynamics within the system that keep producing negative feedback loops.

    That’s the thing we want to address.

    I think it can be addressed. I think there are many people in this room who have been working on this for many, many years. But it’s possible to do something about it. To do it differently.

    And that’s why I’ve come here today – to launch what we’re calling the Good Food Cycle. We think it’s a really significant step in the change we want to take together.

    And I think this is actually a very special moment because it’s the first time, as far as I can see, that the whole of government is aligned on a vision for the food system, looking ahead to the future. And it’s one which puts people and the planet at its heart.

    Now, we haven’t done this alone. This is not just about government. We’ve worked across the food system.

    Sarah [Bradbury, IGD CEO] has been saying this – and our colleagues involved in the systems process have told us too – we’ve worked with industry, trying to do what only government can do: convene and coordinate action on food.

    And the reason we’re doing this is not just because it’s a good thing to do – it’s because what we’re hearing from people, right across the country, across generations and communities, is that this is really, really important.

    Because the one thing we all do – is eat. And we should take joy and celebration in that. It’s really important.

    So, over the last six months – in the early part of this government – we’ve spoken to over 400 individuals. That’s been coordinated through the process – thank you to everyone who helped make that happen.

    We’ve heard from organisations, from businesses. We’ve been asking the question: What would a good food system look like?

    I’m very grateful to the people who’ve been sitting on the Food Strategy Advisory Board – some of you may have read about that – Sarah has been providing the secretariat and more; keeping together a complicated group of people with very different views, but we’re working well together – and the Systems Advisory Council. Also, the F4 – that’s the grouping of the key parts of industry. All of them have been involved in this discussion. So many people from academia as well – I see leading academic figures locally.

    All have given time and effort to help us develop what we believe is a shared vision.

    [Political line removed]

    Well, I’m absolutely determined, as the food minister, that we will not make that mistake.

    We will listen. We’ll work alongside those in the food system who make key decisions – and also those who play key roles in that system. Whether that’s a supermarket boss, or someone who’s making the Sunday lunch. Or someone working in a shop.

    All those people are going to be involved in this discussion.

    This is a vision for a healthier, more affordable, sustainable, and resilient 21st-century UK food system that grows the economy, feeds the nation, nourishes people, and protects the environment and climate – now and in the future.

    So, for the next steps to make our Good Food Cycle vision a reality, we’ve identified ten priority outcomes that we’ll be working with people to deliver.

    Those outcomes are focused on:

    • Ensuring everyone has access to healthier and more affordable food
    • Creating the conditions for a thriving and growing food sector, with more investment in healthy, sustainable, affordable food
    • Ensuring a secure, sustainable and resilient food supply
    • Building on vibrant local food cultures – like we’ve seen here in Bradford

    We know there’s a huge prize for investing in the UK food system, which is why we are focused on creating the right conditions to bring money and talent into the UK food system.

    Because when we grow, make, and sell healthy food, frankly, everyone benefits.

    Now, the cost of healthy food is a key concern for working people across the country. And we’re focused on food and nutritional security, from a household to a national level.

    One way to support a secure and more resilient food system is to enhance our food security monitoring – in response to continued volatility from geopolitical and climate shocks.

    It’s critical that this information is transparent and available to people across the food system.

    Today I am committing to a new annual food security statistics publication to be published in the years between the triennial UK Food Security Report, starting this year.

    It will be a more frequent and focused publication, designed to ensure that key UK food security analysis is made public in order to capture emerging trends, and to support both policymakers and the public.

    That’s a government step we’re announcing today – to ensure we continue to support a more secure food supply chain in this country, so we can build a stronger future.

    I believe now is the time to act and make positive change to support our nation. Because with climate, health, and economic pressures growing, we stand to lose out if we don’t act now. Action on improving the food system isn’t just for national government – frankly, it’s for all of us.

    So, I’d like to say just a little bit about what I’ve heard is happening here in Bradford – and I hope you’ll find it as inspirational as I do.

    I understand that in February of this year, the Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture, in collaboration with others, unveiled over 30 innovative projects as part of its Creative Health programme, harnessing the transformative power of culture and creativity to tackle some of the district’s most urgent health and social challenges. 

    And we’re already seeing great outcomes from this work.

    The Cookery School, run by Inn Churches in this Market, in partnership with Jamie Oliver’s Ministry of Food,  teaches children and adults how to make healthy, fresh, tasty meals from scratch for themselves and their families.  

    Living Well is an initiative led by Bradford Council Public Health, the NHS Bradford and Craven Health and Care Partnership and a wide range of key stakeholders and community groups. They are helping to address the rising levels of obesity and reduce the high levels of early and preventable deaths within the district. 

    I’d like to thank the initiatives leaders, the Bradford Council and Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership for all their hard work in helping individuals to live well.  

    This government wants to work across the food system to make the healthy choice the easy choice for people in Bradford and across the country.  

    But a healthy food system is not only about what we eat, it is also about how our food is produced and the impact it has on the environment.  

    When we come together to eat – we are sharing in something incredibly powerful. Culture. 

    Which brings me back to why I am here in Bradford today. Culture and Community are closely interlinked. Communities build culture. This building is the site of a shift in culture. One which is about connecting people with their local food producers, as well as supporting them to have the skills to use this amazing bounty of British ingredients. 

    Everyone should be able to take pride and joy in what they grow and eat. And we want local producers to grow more of what we eat and communities to eat more of what we grow. 

    This Government is here to enable, protect and prepare. Enable health, growth and productivity. Protect food standards. Prepare for the impacts of a more extreme weather and more volatile world.

    This is a cross-government strategy, and we will work collaboratively to ensure we take the right steps to address the needs of the nation. 

    This is a milestone in our commitment to transform the food system. So today, we set out what we want to achieve, and why it’s important.

    Now and in the future, we’ll work with citizens, with civil society, with farmers, with fishers, with food businesses to agree how to reach that vision, and how we will measure our progress.

    If we can replicate some of the energy and commitment I have seen today and enable the growth of other Darley Street markets in other towns across the country; enable every class of school children to enjoy healthy, delicious food; enable investment in responsible food businesses , we will be well on our way. 

    Friends, together we can make the healthy, sustainable choice the easy and obvious one – for everyone. Together, we can create the Good Food Cycle.

    Updates to this page

    Published 16 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Aurora Antrim and Jane Hurst have been reappointed to The Royal Parks, and Bronwyn Hill’s second term extended.

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Aurora Antrim and Jane Hurst have been reappointed to The Royal Parks, and Bronwyn Hill’s second term extended.

    The Secretary of State has reappointed Aurora Antrim and Jane Hurst as Trustees of The Royal Parks and has extended Bronwyn Hill’s second term as Trustee.

    Aurora Antrim

    Reappointed for a 4 year term commencing 14 August 2025 to 13 August 2029.

    Aurora Antrim is an award-winning arts documentary filmmaker who, as Aurora Gunn, spent many years working on The South Bank Show for ITV and Sky making films on subjects ranging from Shakespeare to Tracey Emin to Herbie Hancock.

    Aurora has over 20 years’ experience managing an historic landscape, with a focus on income diversification and sustainability, while overseeing the running of the Glenarm Castle estate in Northern Ireland. Her horticultural experience includes the complete restoration and replanting of an historic walled garden which won, by public vote, the Historic Houses Garden of the Year Award in 2023.

    This is Aurora’s second term on the Board of The Royal Parks where she serves on the HR Committee. She also sits on The Regent’s Park Store Yard Programme Board, responsible for the creation of a brand new garden in The Regent’s Park due to open in 2026.

    Jane Hurst 

    Reappointed for a 4 year term commencing 14 August 2025 to 13 August 2029.

    Jane is a Chartered Accountant and currently CFO of a health tech business. Prior to this she was a partner in KPMG UK with 20 years’ experience of complex restructuring, performance improvement and turnaround. She has worked in a wide range of businesses- from the very large and global to the very small. She has also supported multiple public sector entities undergoing change. 

    Jane has been a trustee at the Royal Parks for four years, she chairs the Audit and Risk Committee and is a member of the Investment Committee.

    Bronwyn Hill CBE

    Second term extended for 9 months from 15 June 2025 to 14 March 2026.

    As Permanent Secretary at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from 2011 to 2015, Bronwyn led a complex organisation through transformational change and a series of crises, including the 2012-13 flooding. A CBE for transport services was in recognition of her contribution to national transport strategy, major projects and transport in London. 

    Her interest in the environment and the importance of green spaces for people led to her joining The Royal Parks Board. Bronwyn contributed to its transformation into a successful charity, and on projects like Greenwich Park Revealed which has restored the historic landscape, created a new education space and welcomes more people to events and activities in the park.

    Remuneration and Governance Code

    Trustees of The Royal Parks are not remunerated. This appointment has been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments.

    The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. Aurora Antrim, Bronwyn Hill and Jane Hurst have not declared any significant political activity.

    Updates to this page

    Published 16 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Hanley Park wins Green Flag award for fifth year running

    Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent

    Published: Wednesday, 16th July 2025

    One of Stoke-on-Trent’s best-loved green spaces has once again been recognised as one of the top parks in the country.

    Hanley Park has been awarded the prestigious Green Flag Award for the fifth year in a row – confirming its status as one of the best-managed parks in the UK.

    The award, run by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, is the international benchmark for parks and green spaces. It celebrates clean, safe and welcoming green spaces that are well-maintained and managed to the highest standards.

    To achieve Green Flag status, parks must demonstrate excellence in areas such as community involvement, environmental management, a variety of plants and wildlife, and accessibility to all.

    Hanley Park has seen a surge in visitors in recent years, thanks to its stunning 60-acre grounds, beautifully maintained green spaces and ongoing investment. The park is home to over 1,000 trees, more than 30 species of animals and birds, a lake and a host of events throughout the year, including hosting major Centenary events.

    A new solar-powered duck feeding station has also been installed at the lake, offering visitors a healthier and more sustainable way to feed the ducks and help protect local waterways.  

    Councillor Amjid Wazir OBE, cabinet member for city pride, enforcement and sustainability for Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “This is a fantastic achievement and a huge credit to the team who care for Hanley Park all year round.

    “They continue to go above and beyond to maintain the highest standards and the Green Flag award is a clear sign of their dedication.

    “Parks like Hanley are vital places for communities to come together – and we’ve seen that first-hand during our Centenary events this year. The park has seen record breaking parkruns, our Centenary bike ride on Stoke-on-Trent Day and there’s more to come.

    “Congratulations to everyone involved – your pride in our city is on full display”

    Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, Paul Todd MBE, said: “Congratulations to everyone involved in Hanley Park who have worked tirelessly to ensure that it achieves the high standards required for the Green Flag Award.

    “Quality parks and green spaces like Hanley Park make the country a heathier place to live and work in, and a stronger place in which to invest.

    “Crucially, Hanley Park is a vital green space for communities in Stoke-on-Trent to enjoy nature, and during the ongoing cost of living crisis it is a free and safe space for families to socialise. It also provides important opportunities for local people and visitors to reap the physical and mental health benefits of green space.”

    Hanley Park will host more celebrations later this year as part of Stoke-on-Trent’s Centenary programme – including the Hanley Park Family Fest on 27 September, marking 100 years since the city was granted official city status.

    To find out more about upcoming events and the city’s Centenary celebrations, visit: www.sot100.org.uk

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget COO Tours UCLA, Harvard and LALIGA Business School, Accelerating Blockchain Education

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, July 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, is making bold strides in the academic space, blending blockchain education with real-world brand strategy. On a recent multi-campus tour, Bitget COO Vugar Usi Zade visited LALIGA Business School, UCLA, and Harvard, where he shared how Bitget’s global partnerships and Web3 initiatives are rewriting the playbook for the future of finance, sponsorship, and digital culture.

    Vugar Usi Zade, Bitget COO speaking at LALIGA Business School

    At LALIGA Business School, Vugar delivered a dedicated MBA session on “The Business of Entertainment and Sponsorships as Growth Tools,” using Bitget’s high-profile collaborations with Juventus and Lionel Messi as a blueprint for strategic scaling. The case study examined how such partnerships drive awareness, increase user acquisition, and deepen market trust across diverse regions. A key highlight was Bitget’s multi-year partnership with LALIGA, which was examined as a model for upper-funnel activation and regional engagement.

    Students analyzed Bitget’s stadium-level branding efforts, VIP and KOL-led activations, and the broader impact of experiential campaigns, such as watch parties featuring LALIGA footballers, helping localize the Bitget brand while expanding its global footprint. The class also discussed Bitget’s recent campaign with Raphinha, FC Barcelona winger, showcasing how player-focused storytelling can reinforce brand positioning across football’s passionate fan base.

    “The Bitget x LALIGA collaboration is more than a sponsorship—it’s a long-term partnership built on shared values and global vision,” said Vugar Usi Zade, COO of Bitget. “From stadiums to classrooms, we’re committed to bringing the excitement of Spanish football and the promise of blockchain technology to audiences worldwide. Our collaboration with LALIGA Business School reflects that ambition in educating the next generation of business leaders while placing Bitget at the intersection of sport, finance, and innovation.”

    Bitget’s Blockchain4Youth initiative, a $10 million global program designed to educate and empower young talent in the Web3 space, has already partnered with over 70 universities worldwide, including LALIGA Business School. Through this collaboration, MBA students gain priority access to the Bitget Builders Program, a structured graduate track that includes a COO apprenticeship, international mentorship, and real-world experience across Bitget’s business verticals.

    As part of its academic outreach, Bitget brought Web3 to the classroom, delving into tokenomics with students at UCLA’s Department of Economics and taking center stage at the Harvard Blockchain Conference, where the company was featured as a case study in next-generation crypto innovation.

    Whether breaking down blockchain basics or reimagining sports sponsorships in the digital age, Bitget’s campus tour reflects a growing push to connect with future talent, spark curiosity, and bridge the gap between academic theory and real-world Web3 impact.

    About Bitget

    Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 120 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions, while offering real-time access to Bitcoin price, Ethereum price, and other cryptocurrency prices. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a leading non-custodial crypto wallet supporting 130+ blockchains and millions of tokens. It offers multi-chain trading, staking, payments, and direct access to 20,000+ DApps, with advanced swaps and market insights built into a single platform.

    Bitget is driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World’s Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM markets, as well as a global partner of Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team), to inspire the global community to embrace the future of cryptocurrency.

    Aligned with its global impact strategy, Bitget has joined hands with UNICEF to support blockchain education for 1.1 million people by 2027. In the world of motorsports, Bitget is the exclusive cryptocurrency exchange partner of MotoGP™, one of the world’s most thrilling championships.

    For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet
    For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com

    Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/db591935-1bbf-4ef5-929c-fb8c22e16132

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/085a7fc1-4f14-4a79-b5d8-d7e0064f5baa

    The MIL Network –

  • Archer keen to play remaining India tests, Ashes; Dawson replaces injured Bashir in England squad for fourth test

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    After missing four years of test duty due to injury, England speedster Jofra Archer is keen to make up for lost time and says he wants to play the final two tests against India and prove he deserves a place in the squad for the Ashes series in Australia.

    Archer made his test comeback at Lord’s in the third test, bowling at full tilt to claim five wickets, including three in the second innings as England clinched a 22-run victory to go 2-1 up in the five-match series.

    England management, men’s managing director Rob Key in particular, have been careful about Archer’s workload since his recovery from elbow and back injuries but the bowler is raring to go.

    “I can play the other two (against India) if they let me,” Archer told Sky Sports.

    “I don’t want to lose this series. I told ‘Keysey’ I wanted to play the test summer and I wanted to play the Ashes.

    “I think one tick is already there and I will do everything possible in my power to be on the plane in November.”

    It was Archer’s first test since coach Brendon ‘Baz’ McCullum and captain Ben Stokes took the helm in 2022 and implemented an exciting result-oriented approach.

    Archer was happy how his reintegration into the test squad had been handled.

    “Obviously it would have been the format which would have taken the most time to come back to. So I played 50-over and T20 for the last year and a half, two years,” he said.

    “The guys have played some really exciting cricket since Baz took over. I think the mentality of the team under Baz suits the way I like to play my cricket.

    “I just couldn’t wait to get back and actually do it without having to be prompted to do it.”

    Meanwhile, Left-arm spinner Liam Dawson has replaced injured Shoaib Bashir in England’s 14-player squad for the fourth test in the five-match series against India, the England and Wales Cricket Board said on Tuesday.

    Bashir suffered a fracture to his finger in his non-bowling left hand while attempting a low catch during his own bowling during the third test on Saturday. He is set for surgery later this week.

    The 21-year-old came back to bowl on Monday, taking India’s last wicket to ensure a thrilling 22-run victory for the hosts at Lord’s, securing a 2-1 lead in the series.

    Dawson has not played a test match since July 2017 but has represented England in white-ball cricket since then, last appearing during the Twenty20 series against West Indies last month.

    The 35-year-old has played five matches for Hampshire in the T20 Blast this month, taking five wickets.

    The fourth test against India begins on July 23 in Manchester.

    England squad: Ben Stokes (Captain), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Patients who feel heard are more likely to stick with medical treatment

    Source: The Conversation – France – By Diana Pérez-Arechaederra, Associate Professor of Organizational Psychology, ESCP Business School

    In the 2000s, when I worked as a psychologist in long-term elderly care and primary healthcare services, many of the patients I saw were living with chronic or complex conditions. These situations required that patients trust care providers, consistently adhere to treatments and, often, receive care over an extended period of time.

    But what stood out to me were the differences in how those protocols were applied. Some practitioners took time to explain something clearly, asked questions that showed genuine care, or invited patients into a conversation about their treatment. I also noticed how differently patients responded when none of that happened.

    The quality of communication – the level of respect, attention and clarity – often made the difference between patients’ cooperation and resistance, between their motivation and withdrawal.

    These observations led me to systematically investigate the psychological processes involved in how patients perceive fairness in healthcare.

    What I found, in collaboration with colleagues, is that this “soft” dimension of care – how people perceive their treatment, how information is shared with them, and how much time and space they are given to take part in the process – has very real effects on behaviour. Patients’ perception of respect – what we call interactional fairness – often hinges on whether they are given the chance to ask questions, make sense of information, weigh different options and even participate in making decisions. For patients to follow a practitioner’s recommendations, they need to feel informed, heard, respected and involved – not just treated.

    What fairness looks like in practice

    In our study, we examined two forms of what psychologists call organizational justice in healthcare settings:

    • Interactional justice – the sense of being treated with dignity, attentiveness and respect

    • Informational justice – the perception that shared information is clear, complete, timely and relevant

    We surveyed over 850 patients in Spain and the United States who had visited a healthcare provider in the previous six months. We asked them how they experienced their interactions with health professionals, how much they trusted those professionals, how satisfied they were with the service, whether they followed medical advice, and whether they intended to return to the same provider.

    What we saw was a clear pattern. Patients who perceived fairness – being treated with respect and given clear and appropriate information – were more likely to trust their healthcare provider. That trust, in turn, shaped whether they felt able to engage with treatment and sustain their relationship with (or, in the language of our study, their “loyalty” to) the healthcare service or physician. What we call informational fairness had a particularly strong direct link to adherence to treatments or clinical advice, showing its importance for understanding patient behaviour.

    In healthcare, patients are navigating uncertainty, vulnerability, and long-term relationships with systems and providers. Their ability to understand, participate in and trust that process is integral to care.


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    Insights across borders

    Despite the structural and institutional differences between Spain, with its predominantly public healthcare system, and the United States, where healthcare is largely organised through the private sector, our goal was to identify common patterns in how patients interpret and engage with services. Specifically, we sought to understand whether similar cognitive and emotional processes create the patient experience, regardless of the broader healthcare system in place.

    Using path analysis models, we assessed the relationships between patients’ perceptions of fairness and their resulting levels of trust and satisfaction, and then, the relationship between those perceptions and patients’ adherence and loyalty to the service. While patients in the United States exhibited slightly stronger associations between perceived fairness and both trust and satisfaction, the overall nature of the relationships was highly consistent across both countries.

    These findings suggest that despite differences in how care is delivered and financed, patients in both countries respond to their healthcare interactions in fundamentally similar ways. This matters for healthcare providers and policymakers across diverse settings who are aiming to enhance patient-centred care.

    Recognizing patients as agents

    At the heart of this is an ethical question: Are patients treated as agents in their own care, or simply as objects of intervention?

    Medicine is not a closed, flawless system. It is a developing field of research being translated into practice, and its shortcomings are shaped by social and structural biases, and by the fact that patients may not be given all of the options they should receive. In areas such as women’s health, chronic pain, mental health and rare diseases, patients often offer insights that clinical protocols miss. When their lived experience is ignored or dismissed, we lose opportunities for better diagnoses, more responsive and efficient care, and more sustainable treatment plans.



    À lire aussi :
    Doctors need to talk through treatment options better for black men with prostate cancer

    When I was working in elderly care, I remember the testimony of a resident who was very upset because his parenteral treatment (an injection) had been changed to an enteral one (a drink). Nobody informed him about the change. When I asked him why he was so unhappy, he said: “I much preferred the injections because the clinician who came to administer them was very nice to me. We were friends. Now, I’ll never see her again.”

    I’m not sure whether continuing with the parenteral administration was even possible, but what was certain is that nobody asked him what he preferred. And that had an impact on him.

    Listening to patients is not merely being polite: it is recognizing that they have information that professionals lack. And that the ethical foundation of health care depends not only on what medical professionals do to patients, but on how they work with them.

    What can be done

    Creating fairer care involves the following concrete practices, which come from our findings:

    • Designing information systems that support timely, accessible and patient-centred communication

    • Designing procedures and allocating enough time for professionals to conduct themselves in accordance with interactional and informational fairness principles

    • Training for professionals in relational and communication skills that foster patients’ perceptions of respect and dignity

    • Educating patients about what care can reasonably provide to help set appropriate expectations

    • Reframing patient participation so that patients are not just surveyed after the fact, but listened to and given agency throughout the care process



    À lire aussi :
    Power to the patient: Person-centred care and how you can take your health into your own hands

    None of this is separate from clinical quality. On the contrary, it is what allows clinical care to work best and for all. When patients feel that they matter – that they are respected and informed – they are more likely to collaborate, follow through and return for more care if they need it. That would benefit patients, their practitioners, healthcare systems and society.

    The scientific article referred to in this piece was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), whose projects, RD24/0005/0018, were co-funded by the European Union and the Facility for Recovery and Resilience (MRR). The Network for Research on Chronicity, Primary Care and Health Promotion (RICAPPS) was involved in the development of RD24/0005/0018. Projects PI22/01677 and PI20/00321 were co-financed by the European Union. The government of Castilla y León also collaborated in the funding of this study through research projects BioSan 2009 and BioSan 2011. These funders played no role in the study design, data analysis, results reporting or the decision to submit the manuscript for publication.

    – ref. Patients who feel heard are more likely to stick with medical treatment – https://theconversation.com/patients-who-feel-heard-are-more-likely-to-stick-with-medical-treatment-260750

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: HKPL showcases diverse e-resources at Hong Kong Book Fair (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

         The Hong Kong Public Libraries (HKPL) has set up a booth at the Hong Kong Book Fair 2025, which is being held from today (July 16) to July 22 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, to introduce the HKPL’s rich e-resources under the theme “Zoom/LIBRARY”.

         The booth is located at A32 in Hall 1C on 1/F. Members of the public can experience the online services and e-resources of the HKPL through touchscreen displays and tablets in the booth. They can also enjoy the audio programmes of selected books from the podcast channel of the HKPL, “24/7 Story Pavilion”. There are also special photo-taking spots, including some about Hong Kong’s historic sites related to the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. Visitors who upload a photo taken at the spots to social media platforms can redeem a souvenir on-site, while stocks last.

         The HKPL has a number of rich electronic collections. Patrons can access a variety of Chinese and English e-books and e-magazines through electronic collections of Kono Libraries, OverDrive and Flipster, as well as a wide range of business and economic journals and scholarly dissertations in the ProQuest Business Collection. The e-book database Boundless by Baker & Taylor provides English e-books and audiobooks suitable for adults, teenagers and children. Parents can enjoy reading time with children utilising Chinese books in the FunPark e-book collection, and cultivate their children’s reading habits and language skills.

         In addition, Chinese books suitable for people of different ages are available in the popular SUEP e-book database, which provides audiobooks of Jin Yong’s martial arts novels, works of renowned Hong Kong writers and more. The “Popular Good Reads@SUEP” series in the database selects popular books of diverse subjects for patrons to enjoy trending works in the comfort of their homes.

         The selection of locally published e-books in the “Pop-up e-Book” page of the HKPL website (www.hkpl.gov.hk/en/collections/pop-up-e-book.html) is updated quarterly. Members of the public can experience the convenience and joy of e-reading with book titles from areas of literature, fiction, lifestyle, children’s books and others, without the requirement of logging into a library account. 

         The HKPL provides over 550 000 e-books and 80 e-databases. Members of the public can log in to their library accounts to read online or download content to computers and mobile devices for e-reading. Hong Kong residents who have never applied for library cards or HKPL e-accounts can visit the HKPL’s website to apply for e-accounts and enjoy immediate access to the diverse e-resources.

         Please visit the HKPL’s booth at the fair or visit www.hkpl.gov.hk/en/e-resources/index.html to know more about the e-resources. More latest information of the HKPL is also available at the “Reading is Joyful” Facebook page (www.facebook.com/readingisjoyful) and Instagram page (www.instagram.com/readingisjoyful). 

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Order to amend Dangerous Drugs Ordinance to be gazetted on July 18 with all etomidate analogues to become dangerous drugs

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

    A spokesperson for the Security Bureau said today (July 16) that following the publication of the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (Amendment of First Schedule) (No. 2) Order 2025 (DDO Order) in the Gazette on Friday (July 18), (a) all analogues of etomidate; and (b) another six substances, will be listed as dangerous drugs under the law. 

    The DDO Order will take effect upon its gazettal on July 18, 2025. The DDO Order is subject to the negative vetting procedure of the Legislative Council. Details including the justifications of the legislative proposal could be found from the brief for the Legislative Council issued today at the Annex.  
     
    The DDO Order would impose control on the following substances by placing them under the First Schedule to the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (DDO) (Cap. 134):

    (1) all analogues of etomidate; and 
    (2) six substances, namely, (i) N-Pyrrolidino protonitazene; (ii) N-Pyrrolidino metonitazene; (iii) N-Piperidinyl etonitazene; (iv) N-Desethyl isotonitazene; (v) hexahydro derivatives of cannabinol and their 3-alkyl homologues (including hexahydrocannabinol (HHC)); and (vi) carisoprodol.   

    The listing of the six substances in sub-paragraph (2) above is based on the latest international control regime. These six substances are not related to the “space oil drug”.

    The spokesperson said, “Illegal use of etomidate and its analogues are addictive and would seriously damage one’s health.  Recent scientific analysis has shown that certain analogues of etomidate may potentially be abused. The Government is determined to safeguard the public and so we are taking a pre-emptive step to strengthen the control of all etomidate analogues. From July 18, all etomidate analogues, including but not limited to isopropoxate, metomidate, and propoxate, will become dangerous drugs.” Under the strict control of the DDO, trafficking and manufacturing of these substances are liable to a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of $5 million. Possession and consumption of these substances in contravention of the DDO will be subject to a maximum penalty of seven years’ imprisonment and a fine of $1 million.

         “Beyond legislation and law enforcement, the Government has launched a preventive education and publicity strategy against the ‘space oil drug’. The Government will continue to adopt targeted and innovative strategies to combat drug-related harm in partnership with the community,” the spokesperson said. 

    The spokesperson added, “The amendment aims to deter any potential trafficking and abuse of these dangerous drugs. This will help fortify Hong Kong’s defence against drugs.” 

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ1: Managing passenger flows at land boundary control points

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

    Following is a question by Dr the Hon Dennis Lam and a reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, in the Legislative Council today (July 16):

    Question:

    It has been reported that the number of Mainland visitors to Hong Kong in April this year grew by 13 per cent year-on-year. In response to my question in January last year, the Government indicated that it would maintain close liaison with Mainland authorities regarding the extension of operating hours at boundary control points (BCPs) during major festive periods. Subsequently, the Government also indicated that it would further review whether immigration clearance hours at certain BCPs on weekdays would be extended. On managing passenger flow at land BCPs, will the Government inform this Council:

    (1) given that several large-scale concerts have been held on the same day in recent months, resulting in large crowds of visitors crossing the border via the Lok Ma Chau Control Point after the events, with the flow of people continuing into the early hours, whether the Government will consider extending immigration clearance hours at the Lo Wu Control Point until 2am the following day on days when large-scale concerts take place, and correspondingly extending the service hours of the MTR East Rail Line, so as to enhance the travel experience for visitors coming to Hong Kong to attend concerts;

    (2) whether it will expeditiously discuss with Mainland authorities the extension of immigration clearance hours at the Heung Yuen Wai Control Point and the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point; and

    (3) given that the passenger flow at the Heung Yuen Wai Control Point has exceeded its design capacity by more than double on both weekdays and holidays, whether the Government has considered introducing long-term measures to manage passenger flow, such as installing additional Automated Immigration Clearance (e-Channel) services, so as to increase their number to a level comparable with that of the Mainland counterpart?

    Reply:

    President,

    With the increasing cross-boundary passenger flow between Guangdong and Hong Kong, exchanges at the community level have also intensified. In addition to the popularity of travelling to the Mainland during weekends or long holidays among Hong Kong residents, we are also pleased to observe a sustained increase in the number of Mainland visitors to Hong Kong. In the first half of this year, of the around 23.6 million inbound passenger trips to Hong Kong, Mainland visitors accounted for over 70 per cent, that is around 17.8 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 10 per cent. Many of these visitors came to Hong Kong to attend international entertainment and sports events. In view of the growing demand for clearance services, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has been closely monitoring the operation of the boundary control points (BCPs) and proactively enhancing the clearance capacity to facilitate the two-way flow of people between Hong Kong and the Mainland.   

    In consultation with the Transport and Logistics Bureau and the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, a reply to the questions raised by Dr the Hon Dennis Lam is as follows:

    (1) and (2) To enhance the experience of both residents and visitors attending large-scale concerts, relevant Government departments and organisations will discuss the detailed arrangements for each large-scale concert, including assessment and deployment of manpower resources, formulation and implementation of plans for crowd control, information dissemination, traffic diversion and control point arrangements etc based on factors such as the number of attendees, nature, ending time and ticketing situations of the concerts.

    Drawing on past operational experiences, relevant departments will make advance planning for large-scale concerts, including pre-assessing the cross-boundary passenger traffic and making corresponding arrangements with a view to effectively managing the passengers departing through land BCPs following large-scale concerts. For example, the Immigration Department (ImmD) will deploy manpower as appropriate to strengthen services based on the estimated passenger traffic. The Transport Department (TD) will co-ordinate in advance with the MTR Corporation, as well as local and cross-boundary public transport operators, to increase service frequency based on the projected passenger flow. Additionally, co-ordination will be undertaken with concert organisers to disseminate cross-boundary traffic information in advance via social media platforms, as well as inside the venues on the day of the concerts. Relevant departments will also monitor the real-time situations at various BCPs, make flexible deployment of manpower to operate additional clearance counters and channels, and maintain close liaison with relevant Mainland port authorities through the established port hotlines and real-time notification mechanism to ensure smooth operation of the BCPs.

    Following the end of large-scale evening concerts, cross-boundary passengers may undergo immigration clearance via the Lo Wu Control Point, Shenzhen Bay Port, Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang (LMC/HG) Port and Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) Hong Kong Port. For the LMC/HG Port, it is observed that most cross-boundary passengers begin arriving approximately 45 minutes after the end of large-scale concerts, with the northbound passenger flow generally dispersed within 1.5 hours. According to recent observations, although cross-boundary passenger flow at relevant BCPs has increased following large-scale concerts, operations have remained largely smooth and in order. Overall speaking, the existing services at the BCPs are able to meet with the passenger demand.

    The extension of operating hours of clearance services involves the operation of the ports on both Mainland and Hong Kong sides, and careful consideration has to be given to a host of factors, including the actual needs, effective utilisation of resources of both places, manpower arrangements and ancillary transport services. On the basis of the 24-hour passenger clearance services currently provided at the LMC/HG Port and the HZMB Hong Kong Port, we will continue to closely monitor the demand for passenger clearance services and, having regard to actual needs, liaise with the relevant Mainland authorities on extending the operating hours of the passenger clearance services at respective BCPs when necessary.

    (3) As the first control point adopting the design of “direct access to people and vehicles”, the Heung Yuen Wai (HYW) BCP has been well received by the public since the commissioning of passenger clearance services in February 2023. As at June this year, the daily average cross-boundary passenger traffic at the HYW BCP was about 78 000 passenger trips, and during weekends and holidays, the daily average exceeded 91 000 passenger trips, which was three times of its design flow.

    Relevant departments have been taking various measures, including flexible deployment of manpower, optimisation of workflow and effective use of information technology, to enhance the handling capacity and efficiency of the HYW BCP. In June last year, the ImmD converted some of the traditional counters in the passenger arrival hall of the HYW BCP, thereby increasing the number of e-Channels from 14 to 18 and expanding the number of traditional counters from 9 to 12.

    In response to the continued growth in passenger traffic, the ImmD is now carrying out enhancement works at the passenger departure hall of the HYW BCP. Upon completion, the number of e-Channels will be increased from 14 to 18. During the construction period, four temporary counters have been set up in the passenger departure hall to minimise the impact of the works.  We are also exploring the possibility of further increasing the number of e-Channels and traditional counters.

    Lastly, I appeal to both visitors and residents to pay attention to the information released by the Government on various platforms. They are suggested to check in advance the relevant websites, mobile applications and mini programmes of the ImmD and the TD, as well as those of the Shenzhen and Zhuhai authorities, so as to understand the clearance situations at various BCPs and to avoid making their journeys during peak hours to save waiting time. We will also work with relevant departments to explore further enhancements to the online dissemination of information of BCPs, with a view to facilitating early journey planning by the public.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ10: Procedures for healthcare personnel to compile and modify medical records

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

         Following is a question by the Hon Chan Hoi-yan and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, in the Legislative Council today (July 16):
     
    Question:
     
         It has been reported that several medical incidents involving the subsequent modification of medical records have previously occurred in public hospitals, sparking controversy (e.g. a medical incident at Queen Mary Hospital in 2020 where a girl was suspected to have gone into a vegetative state due to delayed blood transfusion, which involved doctors modifying the medical records after surgery, and the family considered that the relevant contents had a critical impact on understanding the incident’s circumstances). There are views that under the existing mechanism, there is no effective procedure to ensure the necessity and legitimacy of modifying medical records, which lacks protection for both healthcare personnel and patients. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) whether it knows, among the complaints received by the Hospital Authority (HA) in the past five years, the respective numbers of complaints involving the procedures for compiling medical records, the accuracy of the contents of records and the subsequent modification of the contents of medical records;
     
    (2) whether it knows if HA has currently formulated relevant guidelines on the procedures and conditions for healthcare personnel to compile medical records and modify their contents; if HA has, of the details, and whether it has plans to improve such guidelines;

    (3) whether it knows, with respect to modifications made by healthcare personnel to the contents of the complied medical records, if HA currently has a mechanism in place to verify the accuracy of the modified contents; if HA has, of the details; if not, the reasons for that and the difficulties involved;

    (4) as there are views pointing out that in the past, a single doctor was responsible for recording medical procedures and confirming all surgical steps in some surgeries, which might affect the accuracy of the records, whether the Government knows if HA will consider amending the relevant procedures to require two or more healthcare personnel to be responsible for recording and confirming, so as to avoid unnecessary disputes; if HA will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

    (5) whether it knows if HA will consider introducing different tools to record surgical procedures (e.g. making audio or video recordings with patients’ consent) to protect both healthcare personnel and patients and reduce disputes; if HA will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

    Reply:
     
    President,

         Having consulted the Hospital Authority (HA), our consolidated reply to the question raised by the Hon Chan Hoi-yan is as follows:

         Healthcare personnel must comply with the relevant guidelines issued by their respective professional bodies, such as the Code of Professional Conduct issued by the Medical Council of Hong Kong. Besides, for the compilation and amendment of the medical records, healthcare personnel should also follow the requirements set forth in the HA’s Clinical Data Policy Manual and Manual of Good Practices in Medical Records Management. 

         When compiling medical records, healthcare personnel, including doctors, must always uphold their professional ethics and are responsible for maintaining systematic, true, adequate, clear, and contemporaneous medical records. Given that healthcare personnel must prioritise the patient’s clinical condition during treatments like surgeries, detailed real-time documentation may not always be feasible. To ensure the accuracy of medical records, healthcare personnel may from time to time need to compile, amend or supplement medical records subsequently. The HA has also in place mechanism for subsequent amendment of medical records. In cases where relevant medical records should be amended or supplemented with details, the electronic medical record system will automatically log the time and specifics of all updates, while preserving the original records to ensure transparency and traceability of all amendments.

        The HA recognises the importance of accurately documenting surgical procedures to uphold patient safety and ensure transparency in healthcare. Currently, medical records are primarily compiled by the attending doctor based on the actual situation, and should be in line with the HA’s clinical data policies and pertinent specialty guidelines. Subsequently, responsible healthcare personnel would upload these records to the clinical management system following verification and provision of electronic signature.

         In fact, the HA’s practice of requiring the responsible healthcare personnel to compile and verify medical records is consistent with the standard practice in the medical sector (including professionals in the private sector). Comparing to the approach commonly adopted in the sector, the HA’s current arrangements for managing medical records and recording subsequent amendments via the electronic clinical management system ensures a higher level of transparency and traceability.

         The HA is also proactively enhancing healthcare quality by, inter alia, incorporating medical equipment with recording capabilities and upgrading the electronic medical record system to facilitate maintaining medical image records. In instances where it is practically necessary (e.g., for clinical, educational, or research purposes) and practicable, the HA may record surgical procedures for future reference upon obtaining patient consent. Such arrangements must adhere strictly to patient privacy policies and data protection regulations, while ensuring that the recorded materials are utilised solely for specified purposes.

         Over the past five years, the number of complaints received by public hospitals concerning the issuance or content of medical records/reports/medical certificates is tabulated as follows:
     

    Year 2020-21 Year 2021-22 Year 2022-23 Year 2023-24 Year 2024-25
    27 37 79 41 41

         The HA does not maintain breakdown of complaints related to the medical record compilation procedures, the accuracy of record content, or subsequent amendments to medical records.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ19: Promoting efficient district governance

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

    ​Following is a question by the Hon Chan Yung and a written reply by the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, in the Legislative Council today (July 16):

    Question:

         The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs pointed out during a media interview last month that the District Councils, “the three district committees” (i.e. the Area Committees, the District Fight Crime Committees and the District Fire Safety Committees) and the District Services and Community Care Teams (Care Teams) are the troika of district governance, with clear divisions of work and high levels of collaboration. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

    (1) how it will continue to strengthen co-operation among the aforesaid three parties;

    (2) given that the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs mentioned in the aforesaid interview that the scope of work of the Care Teams is under review, of the current progress of the relevant work; and

    (3) whether it will, by drawing on the district governance experiences of the Mainland and Singapore, continue to enhance support in terms of systems, policies and resources, so as to provide more care services for the communities and residents (such as establishing government centres in districts with single-window services from various government departments)?

    Reply:

    President,

         With regards to the member’s question, our reply is as follows:

    (1) Under the improved district governance system, the District Councils (DCs) play the role of complementing and supporting the Government, assisting the Government to gauge public opinions and local sentiments, implement policies and measures, and respond to public aspirations, as well as promoting community involvement activities. The “three district committees” (i.e. the Area Committees, the District Fight Crime Committees and the District Fire Safety Committees) offer advice to the Government according to their respective purviews (e.g. fire prevention, combat crime, etc), and help organise community activities. The District Services and Community Care Teams (Care Teams) are Government-led service teams working in sub-districts to provide people with a wide range of caring and support services, and assist in handling incidents and emergencies. District Officers, as DC Chairmen and Commanders of Care Teams, are responsible for leading the “troika” to collaborate with each other, achieve synergy and provide services to people in need.

    The “troika” are highly integrated. Since April 2024, the Government appointed all incumbent DC members to be members of the “three district committees” with a view to strengthening the connection and collaboration between both sides. DC members also often work with Care Teams to organise various district activities to strengthen community cohesion and allow caring services to reach the community. Each District Office has also established a mechanism to swiftly mobilise and co-ordinate members of the “troika” to assist in handling incidents and emergencies within the district. For example, for the recent drinking water incidents at Queens’ Hill Estate and Shan Lai Court, members of the North DC, members of the “three district committees” and Care Teams conducted over 1 500 home visits over a weekend, set up street booths at each key location to provide residents with the latest water information, and register residents’ requests for assistance and make referrals.

    The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau, the Home Affairs Department and District Offices will continue to enhance co-ordination of the DCs, the “three district committees”, Care Teams and other district organisations and groups to collaborate with the Government. We will also keep under review the actual operational experiences and listen to the views of different sectors to continuously improve the collaboration mechanism, so as to enhance the efficacy of district governance.

    (2) and (3) Since the full launch of 452 Care Teams in 18 districts in the third quarter of 2023, Care Teams have been actively engaging and serving residents in the sub-districts. In addition to the swift mobilisation for incidents and emergency responses as mentioned above and caring for the needs of affected individuals, Care Teams also provide caring services to residents in the districts, including visiting or contacting elderly households and other households in need (e.g. households in subdivided flats and chronic patients, etc), establishing connections with them and providing relevant service information, assisting them in applying and setting up appointments for public services. Care Teams also offer home or other support services to those in need (e.g. basic home repairs and cleansing). As at end June 2025, Care Teams have visited about 530 000 elderly households and other households in need, provided about 76 000 times of basic home or other support services, and organised about 38 000 district-level activities, such as free Chinese medicine consultations, vaccination services, mental well-being support programmes, national security and civic education activities. In terms of promoting government policies, Care Teams have been proactively assisting the Government in promoting various policies, such as distributing promotional leaflets for the Department of Health to disseminate messages about disease prevention to the public, collaborating with district Police Community Relations Office to disseminate messages relating to fraud prevention. Besides, Care Teams in 18 districts also participate in the Social Welfare Department’s District Services and Community Care Teams – Scheme on Supporting Elderly and Carers. Through visits or contact with singleton/doubleton elderly households, and carers of elderly persons and persons with disabilities, Care Teams would help identify needy cases and refer them to relevant social welfare units for follow up. They will also assist in referring eligible elderly persons and persons with disabilities to install and use emergency alarm systems.

    The first term of the service agreements for Care Teams in 18 districts will be concluding in September to October this year. With a view to improving the effectiveness of Care Teams’ work in the next term, we are reviewing various aspects of Care Teams. The Government adheres to the principle of “people-oriented and local circumstances suited” when planning and promoting work in districts. Hong Kong has a highly dense population and a diverse community structure. Each district has different demographics, geographical environments, social facilities and residents’ needs. Therefore, while we may draw reference from the governance experience of Mainland China and Singapore, we shall fully take into account the uniqueness of each district in Hong Kong and flexibly adapt the service models in accordance with local conditions and needs.

    As announced in 2024 Policy Address, the Government will regularise Care Teams, and increase funding amount by 50 per cent in the next term of service in support of their work. Building on the established district networks and the foundation of the caring works, Care Teams will continue to strengthen and further extend their services at the district level through the effective use of the additional resources in the next term of service. Looking ahead, we will continue to strengthen the collaboration mechanism among the DCs, the “three district committees” and Care Teams – the “troika” – to comprehensively enhance service effectiveness and continuously improve people’s sense of well-being and fulfilment.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ21: Fire safety of old buildings

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

    Following is a question by the Hon Vincent Cheng and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, in the Legislative Council today (July 16):
     
    Question:
     
    It has been reported that a No. 3 alarm fire broke out at New Lucky House in Jordan in April last year, resulting in five deaths and 40 injuries of members of the public. This Council subsequently passed the Fire Safety (Buildings) (Amendment) Bill 2024 (the Bill) in December last year to enable the Government to carry out fire safety improvement works for target building owners who fail to comply with the Fire Safety (Buildings) Ordinance, and to increase the penalties imposed on persons who fail to comply with Fire Safety Directions, etc., so as to enhance the fire safety standards of old buildings. However, it is learnt that at present, there are still cases with, among others, public passageways obstructed by miscellaneous articles and smoke stop doors not closed in individual composite buildings and factory buildings. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) given that the Hong Kong Fire Services Department (FSD) indicated in January this year that the authorities had inspected about 1 000 old buildings with higher risk and issued more than 8 600 Fire Hazard Abatement Notices (FHANs), of the percentage of “three-nil buildings” among such buildings, the number of persons prosecuted and convicted, and the reasons why they were prosecuted, with a breakdown by the 18 districts across the territory;
     
    (2) given that the authorities issued FHANs to or took enforcement actions against the non-compliant buildings during the inspections of the buildings mentioned in (1), of the compliance rate of the buildings concerned so far; whether the authorities will further inspect the buildings concerned on a regular basis; if so, of the details;
     
    (3) of the number of old buildings which the authorities will proactively inspect in the coming year;
     
    (4) given that according to the paper submitted by the Government to the Panel on Security of this Council in December last year, the FSD will select 10 to 20 old buildings at the initial stage after the passage of the Bill for the Government to carry out defaulted works, of the number of buildings finally selected by the authorities, as well as their names, and the number of three-nil buildings among such buildings; the progress and estimated costs of the relevant works;
     
    (5) whether the authorities will consider increasing the number of buildings for which defaulted works will be carried out; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

    (6) as it is learnt that although the FSD is inviting some owners of old buildings to participate in the Pilot Scheme on the Internet of Things (IoT) fire detection system (the Scheme) which aims to make use of IoT technology by installing sensors inside flats or in the public areas of buildings, so that in the event of a fire, the sensors will transmit the relevant information directly to the FSD, thereby speeding up the efficiency of the authorities in carrying out fire-fighting operations, only a small number of buildings in each district are invited to participate in the Scheme, of the details of the Scheme and the criteria adopted by the authorities for inviting building owners to participate in the Scheme?

    Reply:

    President,

    Fire safety of buildings is a matter of great concern to the Government. A multi-pronged approach has been taken to improve the fire safety standards of old buildings.

    With regard to law enforcement, the Fire Services Department (FSD) handles fire hazards in buildings (including old buildings) in accordance with the Fire Services Ordinance (Cap. 95). Generally speaking, during the inspections of buildings in respect of fire safety or complaints, if it is discovered that the means of escape are obstructed or locked, the smoke stop doors are left open or defective, the fire service installations or equipment (FSIs) are not in efficient working order or have not undergone annual inspection, etc., the FSD will issue a Fire Hazard Abatement Notice (FHAN) or instigate prosecution against the relevant parties.
     
    Moreover, in respect of legislation, to enhance the fire safety standard of old buildings, the Government enacted the Fire Safety (Buildings) Ordinance (Cap. 572) (the Ordinance) which stipulates that composite and domestic buildings constructed in or before 1987 (target buildings) must be enhanced to meet modern fire protection requirements. Being the enforcement authorities (EAs), the FSD and the Buildings Department (BD) conduct joint inspections of target buildings across the territory in a systematic manner, and in light of the actual condition of the buildings and in accordance with the requirements of the Ordinance, issue Fire Safety Directions (Directions) to the owners or occupiers, specifying the required fire safety improvement works. There are about 14 000 target buildings regulated under the Ordinance. As of end-May 2025, about 11 430 target buildings have been inspected and over 400 000 Directions have been issued. Among those issued Directions, about 40 per cent of them have been complied with or discharged, with the remaining some 60 per cent are being followed-up on. Most of these target buildings are making positive progress in taking forward fire safety improvement works and some are in the early stages showing initial progress in complying with the requirements of the Ordinance. Some other buildings face genuine difficulties in co-ordinating efforts, e.g. some building owners being missing or untraceable, making it impossible to co-ordinate relevant works. For cases lacking progress without reasonable excuse, the EAs will progressively instigate prosecutions against relevant buildings.

    The Government has been proactively providing various kinds of support (including support on financial aspects, co-ordination among owners and technical aspects) to owners of old buildings, assisting them in carrying out fire safety improvement works. To further enhance the fire safety standards of target buildings, amendments were made to the Ordinance, with the relevant Amendment Ordinance came into effect on December 13, 2024, empowering the FSD and the BD to carry out fire safety improvement works for owners who have failed to comply with the requirements of the Ordinance ( defaulted works), and to recover the relevant fees from them upon completion of the works. In addition, the above-mentioned Amendment Ordinance has also introduced different measures with a view to driving owners’ compliance with the requirements of the Ordinance on their own initiative. The FSD and the BD, as the EAs, are proactively implementing the relevant targeted measures.
     
    My reply to the questions raised by the Hon Cheng is as follows:

    (1) In response to the tragic fire at New Lucky House occurred in April 2024, the FSD proactively conducted, under a risk-based principle, about 8 200 inspections against some 1 000 old composite buildings with relatively higher fire risk. A total of 8 661 FHANs were issued during the inspections. The number of FHANs issued to “three-nil buildings”, and the number of successful prosecutions and convictions, are tabulated by District Council districts distribution below –
     

    Districts Of the total of 8 661 FHANs issued by FSD
    The number of FHANs issued to “three-nil buildings” The number of successful prosecutions and convictions
    Islands 0 0
    Central & Western 71 6
    Wan Chai 23 21
    Eastern 101 1
    Southern 16 0
    Kowloon City 169 54
    Kwun Tong 98 14
    Wong Tai Sin 28 2
    Yau Tsim Mong 416 179
    Sham Shui Po 1 074 40
    Tsuen Wan 21 0
    Kwai Tsing 0 0
    Tuen Mun 0 0
    Sha Tin 0 0
    Sai Kung 0 0
    Tai Po 14 2
    North 0 0
    Yuen Long 81 5
    Total 2 112 324

    In respect of the reasons for instigating prosecution, a majority number of cases involved smoke stop door-related irregularities (involving 259 cases), followed by obstruction to means of escape (involving 42 cases) and FSI-related irregularities (involving 23 cases).

    (2) & (3) With respect to the proactive inspections mentioned in (1) above, a total of 8 661 FHANs were issued by the FSD. As of end-June 2025, over 90 per cent of them had been complied with.

    To further step up law enforcement actions against fire hazards in target buildings, the FSD has established the Building Improvement Special Duty Team (known as the Divisional Public Safety Team) in March 2025 in Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and New Territories regions respectively to enhance district-based risk management efforts. In the coming year, the FSD will proactively carry out inspections of 1 800 old buildings, strengthening law enforcement and enhancing fire safety education.

    (4) As far as the implementation of the defaulted works mechanism is concerned, we have established a clear, objective and transparent mechanism to set a threshold and to prioritise defaulted works. During the initial stage of the defaulted works mechanism, a pilot scheme will be implemented by the EAs, under which 10 target buildings have been selected for the Government to carry out defaulted works, among which, more than half of them are “three-nil buildings”. The EAs plan to award works consultancy and contractor contracts in the third quarter of 2025, and it is expected that contractors may commence the works in the fourth quarter of 2025 and the defaulted works for the first building will be completed by mid-2026.  
     
    The EAs are in the procurement process for engaging works consultants and contractors. Therefore, cost of works is yet to be available. Following the completion of investigation and assessment on the defaulted works by the works consultants appointed by the EAs, the EAs may make available to the building owners concerned the initial proposal and preliminary total cost estimate for the defaulted works.
     
    　　As mentioned above, in addition to the introduction of defaulted works, we also introduced different measures in the legislative amendment exercise on the Ordinance, with a view to driving owners’ compliance with the requirements of the Ordinance on their own initiative. One of those measures introduced is on publishing information of Directions, etc. on the EAs’ websites, providing members of the public and prospective buyers with information about the compliance status of target buildings with the Ordinance, further driving owners to carry out fire safety improvement works. To this end, the FSD and the BD have respectively published on their websites (Note) information about Directions or Fire Safety Compliance Orders (FSCOs), etc. (i.e. the address of the building or part to which the Direction/FSCO relates, the serial number, date of issue and compliance status of the Direction and FSCO). This will allow members of the public (including the prospective buyers/tenants of target buildings units) to have better knowledge of the outstanding legal liabilities of the target buildings, thereby encouraging owners to comply with the requirements of the Ordinance.

    (5) When implementing the pilot scheme, the EAs will closely monitor the implementation and execution of the defaulted works mechanism, and maintain close co-ordination with relevant government departments, in order to ensure its effective operation in a sustainable manner. The EAs will decide on the number and schedule of defaulted works per annum after consolidating the experience, taking into account factors such as the industry’s capacity to undertake such works, and formulate long-term and holistic strategies for the mechanism, with a view to assisting owners with genuine difficulties in enhancing the fire protection of old buildings. The EAs expect that defaulted works can be carried out for around 20 to 60 target buildings each year.

    (6) The FSD has long moved with the times and made good use of innovative technologies to enhance operational efficiency and bring convenience and benefits to the public. Looking ahead, the FSD will explore the collaboration with telecommunication service providers to promote smart firefighting, accelerate digital transformation, and explore innovative application of technologies, such as 5G, big data, the Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence in rescue, fire prevention and emergency management. This includes exploring the use of IoT technology to transmit data from fire detectors directly to the FSD’s system for early fire detection, etc., the purpose of which is to enhance the fire safety standard of buildings while holistically improving the level of intelligentisation and informatisation in firefighting. The FSD is currently undertaking preliminary preparatory work for implementing the relevant scheme (including considering a basket of factors, such as building age, number of building storeys, and whether it is a “three-nil building”, etc., in order to select suitable buildings for the pilot scheme). As in the cases of implementing other new measures, after exploring the application of the aforesaid technologies for the implementation of the pilot scheme, the FSD will consolidate relevant experience and review the effectiveness for considering the way forward of the relevant initiative.

    Note:
    FSD’s relevant website is at fsdns.hkfsd.gov.hk/en
    BD’s relevant website is at www.bd.gov.hk/en/resources/online-tools/search/index.html

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ7: Diagonal crossings

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

    Following is a question by the Hon Dennis Leung and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (July 16):

    Question:

    Last year, the Government conducted trials of diagonal crossings at the two crossroads at the junction of Sha Kok Street and Yat Tai Street in Sha Tin and the junction of Carnarvon Road and Granville Road in Tsim Sha Tsui. Some Tseung Kwan O residents have relayed that as the pedestrian flows at the crossroads at the junction of Tong Chun Street and Po Yap Road in Tseung Kwan O (the Tseung Kwan O crossroads) during different periods are extremely high, they hope that diagonal crossings can be tried out and implemented at that crossroads, so as to facilitate the travelling of local residents to and from MTR Tseung Kwan O Station. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

    (1) whether it has assessed and prepared a report on the effectiveness of the two trials of diagonal crossings in Sha Tin and Tsim Sha Tsui; if so, of the contents of the report; if not, when it will conduct such an assessment;

    (2) whether it will include the Tseung Kwan O crossroads as a new trial location for diagonal crossings; if so, when the trial will be conducted; if not, of the reasons for that; and

    (3) as there are views that while the Tseung Kwan O crossroads has five to six carriageways on each side with a diagonal distance of as long as 40 to 50 metres, its traffic signal cycle time is similar to that of other crossroads, leaving insufficient time for pedestrians to cross the road diagonally, whether the Government will consider readjusting the traffic signal timings at that crossroads, so as to facilitate a trial of diagonal crossings?

    Reply:

    President,

    Diagonal crossing is one of the pedestrian-friendly crossing facilities introduced by the Transport Department (TD). Such facilities at appropriate junctions give pedestrians the choice to cross directly to a diagonal corner with shorter walking distance and time, thereby improving the walking environment. After consulting the TD, my consolidated response to the questions raised by the Hon Dennis Leung is as follows:

    (1) To assess how road users navigate junctions and to evaluate the safety and detailed design of diagonal crossings, the TD has conducted trials at the junction of Sha Kok Street and Yat Tai Street in Sha Tin in the first half of 2024 and the junction of Carnarvon Road and Granville Road in Tsim Sha Tsui in the second half of 2024, which will help inform the development of design standards and guidelines for diagonal crossings that are appropriate for Hong Kong. As observed by the TD, the trial results have been positive so far. The trial junctions have been operating safely and smoothly, and reduced walking time for pedestrian crossing the junction diagonally. 

    (2) and (3) In assessing the suitability of diagonal crossing implementation at individual junctions, the TD has to address the needs of different road users, as well as carefully consider the traffic characteristics (including factors such as traffic flow, pedestrian flow and junction layout, etc.) of individual junctions, examine the vehicular capacity of the junctions and its impact on nearby traffic, and explore different engineering options to establish the feasibility. As regards the cross junction of Tong Chun Street and Po Yap Road in Tseung Kwan O, given the relatively long crossing distance and busy traffic flow of the junction, the implementation of diagonal crossing will require significant adjustments to traffic signal (such as reduction of traffic green time) so as to allow sufficient time for pedestrians to cross the road diagonally in a safe manner and this may affect the traffic at the junction and its vicinity. 

    In addition to the two trial junctions mentioned above, the TD is actively assessing the feasibility of diagonal crossing implementation at other signalised junctions, including locations suggested by the public and Legislative Council/District Council Members during the trial period, in order to further promote diagonal crossings. The TD anticipates that the assessment would be completed in the second half of this year with a view to selecting a new batch of suitable junctions for implementation. Thereafter, the TD will progressively plan and take forward the associated works in the light of the assessment results, the specific conditions of the sites and the complexity of the works involved.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ8: Measures to encourage childbirth

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

         Following is a question by the Hon Shang Hailong and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (July 16):

    Question:

         It has been reported that Hong Kong’s fertility rate has remained persistently low in recent years, with the total fertility rate for 2023 standing at only 0.8, which is significantly below the replacement level of 2.1 required to maintain the population level. This situation presents profound challenges to Hong Kong’s future economic development, public service demands and workforce structure. The latest report published by the United Nations Population Fund indicates that the primary cause of the global decline in fertility rates is insufficient “reproductive autonomy”, which includes structural barriers such as economic pressure, gender inequality, lack of partner support and want of comprehensive reproductive health services. There are views that Hong Kong’s current pro-natalist policies largely focus on providing short-term economic incentives (e.g. allowances and increased maternity leave) without formulating long-term strategies to address the aforementioned structural barriers. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

    (1) whether it will conduct a comprehensive review of the effectiveness of the existing pro-natalist measures, and propose ground-breaking policies to address the current structural economic issues faced by citizens (such as high housing costs, intense educational competition, and job instability); 

    (2) given that a survey has reportedly indicated that only 22 per cent of enterprises offer family-friendly measures beyond those required by law, whether the authorities will consider implementing a “family-friendly workplace certification” programme, through which enhanced subsidies would be provided to enterprises to offer more flexible working arrangements and childrearing support; 

    (3)whether the authorities will consider drawing on overseas and the Mainland experiences to actively expand the childcare service network, such as by exploring the introduction of a “neighbourhood childcare voucher scheme”, subsidising parents to use qualified private childcare services within their communities, or making better use of idle government sites or community facilities in commercial areas to establish more childcare service centres; and 

    (4) whether the authorities will consider allowing “top talent”, “quality migrants” and “professionals” admitted under various talent admission schemes to apply for the Newborn Baby Bonus scheme, with a view to encouraging more talent to stay in Hong Kong and contribute to its development?

    Reply:

    President,

         The issue of childbearing straddles across a number of policy areas and bureaux, including the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration’s Office, the Labour and Welfare Bureau, the Education Bureau, the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau, the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, the Health Bureau and the Housing Bureau. A consolidated reply by relevant government bureaux and departments is as follows:

    (1) Childbearing is a major life decision which involves different considerations. Fertility cannot be boosted substantially by Government’s policies alone. Various government bureaux and departments have adopted a range of measures to encourage fertility.

         In respect of child care, the Government has been supporting parents who cannot take care of their children temporarily through subsidising NGOs to provide a variety of day child care services, including Child Care Centre (CCC) services for children aged from birth to under three, After School Care Programme and Neighbourhood Support Child Care Project (NSCCP). To strengthen support for working families in childbearing, the Social Welfare Department (SWD) is setting up 11 aided standalone CCCs in phases over the three years starting from 2024, doubling the total number of service places to reach around 2 000. The SWD is also extending the After School Care Programme for pre-primary children to cover all districts in phases, and increasing the number of service places under the NSCCP to 2 500 with the estimated number of beneficiaries increasing to 25 000. The Government has also launched the School-based After School Care Service Scheme to provide focused support for students in need (particularly those from single-parent families) to stay in school after school hours for care and learning support, thereby allowing their parents to take up jobs. Over 120 primary schools covering 18 districts across the territory participated in the scheme in the 2024/25 school year, providing about 6 000 places. We will encourage more schools to participate in the scheme in the 2025/26 school year without imposing any quota. Meanwhile, the Government reviews the Working Family Allowance (WFA) Scheme from time to time. The rates of the household and child allowances under the WFA Scheme have been increased by 15 per cent across the board with effect from April 2024, benefiting all households receiving the WFA. The WFA Scheme provides additional allowances for relevant childbearing families, and increasing the rates of the WFA helps further alleviate the burden of grassroots working families. Taking a four-person household with two eligible children as an example, the maximum monthly WFA they may receive have increased from the original amount of $4,200 to $4,830 at present.

    Hong Kong’s education system values equity and diversity. The government provides 12 years’ free primary and secondary education through public sector schools, and ensures the provision of sufficient public sector school places for students eligible for receiving education in Hong Kong. Regardless of students’ backgrounds, all are given access to quality education. Diversified support mechanisms are in place to cater to individual differences and promote whole-person development. Our competitive edge is clearly reflected in the excellent performance of Hong Kong students in international studies and assessments. The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2022 results underscore Hong Kong’s outstanding performance in educational equity. Hong Kong ranked second among countries or economies with high academic achievements, indicating that the family socio-economic status of Hong Kong students, including occupation and education level of their parents, had minimal bearing on their performance. This demonstrates that, under our education system, schools are able to provide ample and appropriate education support services for students with different socio-economic backgrounds. The results reaffirmed the merits of the Hong Kong education system in providing all students with quality and equal education opportunities, thereby facilitating social mobility. Besides, the Government has launched the Kindergarten Education Scheme since the 2017/18 school year with the objectives of providing good quality and highly affordable kindergarten education, and enhancing the accessibility of students to different modes of services that suit their specific needs. About 90 per cent of half-day kindergartens are currently free of charge, while the school fees for whole-day kindergartens are maintained at a low level. Families with financial needs may apply for fee remission under the Kindergarten and Child Care Centre Fee Remission Scheme (KCFRS). At present, parents can receive full level of fee remission under the KCFRS.

         The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) has been supporting the work of the Family Council (the Council) in promoting a culture of loving families to the general public through organising different publicity programmes and activities. In October 2024, the HYAB and the Council launched the five-year Funding Scheme on the Promotion of Family Education (the Scheme). With annual funding of $8 million, the Scheme subsidises non-profit-making community projects in promoting family education to meet the needs of different families. For the 2024-25 round of applications, a total of 12 projects have been approved. On the other hand, the Council has been encouraging the wider adoption of more diversified and flexible family-friendly employment practices (FFEPs) in the community. These measures will also help promote a childbearing-friendly environment. Since 2023-24, the Council has been launching promotional videos entitled “Family-friendly Workplace” featuring various FFEPs adopted by local companies with sharings by employers and employees. The FFEPs presented include breastfeeding-friendly arrangements, allowing employees to bring their children to work during summer vacation, work-from-home arrangement and flexible work hours, etc. The Council has also collaborated with the Radio Television Hong Kong to produce radio programmes to promulgate different FFEPs. The Council will continue the relevant promotion work.

         In terms of tax measures, the basic child allowance and the additional child allowance for each child born during the year of assessment (YA) have been raised to $130,000 starting from YA 2023/24. Moreover, starting from YA 2024/25, for taxpayers who live with their children born on or after October 25, 2023, and meet the prescribed conditions, the deduction ceiling for home loan interest or domestic rents may be raised from $100,000 to $120,000 for a maximum of 19 YAs. These measures help alleviate the financial burden of taxpayers from raising children.

         As regards healthcare services, the Government has been committed to supporting assisted reproductive (AR) services and promoting healthy fertility, to assist those who wish to have children. Currently, nine public hospitals under the Hospital Authority (HA) offer assisted reproductive services, among which Queen Mary Hospital, Prince of Wales Hospital, and Kwong Wah Hospital provide in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) services. The HA is gradually increasing the publicly subsidised service quotas of assisted reproductive services for IVF treatment starting from 2024-25, from the previous 1 100 per year to 1 800 per year in 2028-29, and in parallel enhancing the training for relevant professionals. Achievement of the relevant target is underway, where the HA provided 100 additional subsidised service quotas in 2024-25 as planned, and 300 more quotas will be in place in 2025-26, followed by an additional service quota of 100 places per year in the three years that follow. In addition, the HA repositioned seven AR drugs from self-financed items to special drugs in the HA Drug Formulary in late April this year, whereby patients are only required to pay standard fees if prescribed these seven drugs under specified clinical applications, reducing the financial burden on patients receiving the relevant AR drug therapies. Aside from public AR services, starting from the year of assessment 2024-25, the Government is providing tax deductions for expenses on AR services under salaries tax and personal assessment, to relieve the financial burden from the relevant expenditure and encourage couples faced with fertility difficulties to seek medical assistance as necessary. In the meantime, the Department of Health will also revamp maternal and child health and family planning services, providing new pre-pregnancy health services to reproductive age group women at the Maternal and Child Health Centres in phases, as well as review and adjust the scope of the subsidised family planning service currently provided by non-government organisations, to promote healthy fertility. Furthermore, the Council on Human Reproductive Technology plans to lift the statutory maximum storage periods of gametes and embryos for own use within this year, to allow the members of the public to make their own decisions on the storage duration of gametes and embryos depending on their health and other conditions, so as to better realise reproductive autonomy.

         In respect of housing, the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) has implemented the Families with Newborns Allocation Priority Scheme and the Families with Newborns Flat Selection Priority Scheme to encourage childbearing by giving incentives to family applicants of public rental housing (PRH) and subsidised sale flats (SSF) sale exercises. Regarding the allocation of PRH, the HA has implemented the Families with Newborns Allocation Priority Scheme since April 1, 2024. PRH family applications with babies born on or after October 25, 2023, and aged one or below are credited one year of waiting time. As at end-June 2025, about 5 000 PRH applications have been credited one year of waiting time under the scheme, of which about 420 families have already been successfully housed to PRH. As for SSF, starting from the Sale of Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) Flats 2024 (HOS 2024), the HA has implemented the Families with Newborns Flat Selection Priority Scheme which was announced in the 2023 Policy Address. A quota of about 40 per cent of the new flats for sale (i.e. 2 900 flats) under HOS 2024 were set aside for eligible applicants under the Families with Newborns Flat Selection Priority Scheme and the Priority Scheme for Families with Elderly Members for balloting and priority flat selection. Family applicants of HOS with babies born or after October 25, 2023, are eligible if their children are aged three or below on the closing day of the application. During the application period of HOS 2024, the HA received a total of around 106 000 applications. Among them, around 50 000 were family applicants, of which around 19 000 (i.e. about 40 per cent) applied under the Priority Scheme for Families with Elderly Members and Families with Newborns Flat Selection Priority Scheme. Among these 19 000 applicants, 800 applicants have successfully purchased flats through the Families with Newborns Flat Selection Priority Scheme. If eligible families applying under the Families with Newborns Flat Selection Priority Scheme fail to purchase a flat under HOS 2024, they may still apply under the Scheme for priority flat selection as long as their children are aged three or below on the closing day of the application in subsequent SSF sale exercises.

    (2) Through publicity and promotional activities, the Labour Department (LD) motivates employers to adopt employee-oriented good human resources management measures and implement family-friendly employment practices, including allowing flexible work arrangements, granting special leave approval to cater for family needs of employees and providing relevant support to employees’ family life, etc. Implementing FFEPs enables employees to balance the needs of taking care of their family, and also helps employers recruit and retain staff. Considering the diverse circumstances of enterprises, it is more appropriate to adopt an approach that motivates and encourages enterprises to flexibly implement FFEPs. The LD will continue to take forward relevant work by launching publicity and promotion through various channels, including organising activities on the Good Employer Charter.

    (3) As regards the network of child care services, the SWD is setting up 11 aided standalone CCCs in phases over the three years starting from 2024. The SWD has been continuously reviewing the service planning for CCCs and would consider the overall situations of child care services and the characteristics of individual districts so as to take follow-up measures in a timely manner, including enhancing service promotion, and adjusting the planned provision of CCCs and the distribution of service places, etc., to better meet the service demand of the community.

         Regarding the planning for child care facilities, the Government has incorporated the population-based planning ratios into the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines in respect of aided standalone CCCs, with a view to reserving necessary sites and space for these facilities early in the planning process of new and redeveloped areas. The SWD has been maintaining close contact with relevant departments to identify suitable sites in various development or redevelopment of public housing estates and urban renewal projects for the provision of child care facilities. In addition, the SWD will make the best use of vacant government accommodation/premises and vacant non-domestic premises in public housing estates to explore whether they are suitable for the use of child care facilities. The SWD will also provide relevant information and assistance to private organisations applying for registration to operate CCCs, and encourage private organisations to provide child care support for their employees.

    (4) The Government announced in the 2023 Policy Address that a cash reward of $20,000 will be provided to eligible parents for each baby born from October 25, 2023, for a period of three years. Starting from October 25, 2023, parents can submit an application for the bonus at the same time when registering the birth of their baby and applying for a birth certificate. As of end-June 2025, a total of 49 567 qualified applications have been received, and the bonus has been distributed to 48 984 applicants, at a total amount of approximately $979 million. The Office of the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration is carrying out a review of the Newborn Baby Bonus Scheme. In the review, suggestions which have been raised in the community, including whether to cover families under different talent schemes, will be considered. 

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: ICAC Complaints Committee annual report tabled in LegCo

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

    The 2024 Annual Report of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) Complaints Committee was tabled in the Legislative Council today (July 16). The report gives a summary of the Committee’s work in 2024.

    The Committee is tasked with the responsibility of monitoring the handling of non-criminal complaints against the ICAC and its officers. The Committee takes an independent view on the ICAC’s investigation findings on the complaints received, reviews the ICAC’s procedures which may lead to complaints, and makes recommendations for improvement.

    In 2024, the Committee received 13 complaints involving 53 allegations against the ICAC or its officers which required full investigations. Among the allegations registered in 2024, 92 per cent were related to neglect of duties by ICAC officers, 6 per cent to misconduct matters and 2 per cent to abuse of power.   

    The ICAC submits investigation reports to the Committee after conducting full investigations on complaint cases. During 2024, the Committee considered the investigation reports of 17 complaint cases including 13 cases received in 2024 and four cases received in 2023 for which the related investigation was completed in 2024. These complaints contained a total of 66 allegations in which one allegation involving one ICAC officer was found to be substantiated. In this year, the Committee also considered and endorsed six assessment reports submitted by the ICAC for complaints which did not warrant a full investigation. Preliminary assessments showed that the six cases were irrational complaints or had already been dealt with during the court trial with a decision made, and the Committee agreed that no further investigative actions should be taken.

    After a careful examination of the issues identified in the investigation reports considered during 2024, the ICAC has strengthened training programmes for frontline officers to enhance their vigilance and professionalism when discharging their duties.

    The annual report of the Committee is available on the Administration Wing’s website (www.admwing.gov.hk/eng/links/icac.htm) and also at the ICAC’s regional offices.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ2: Promoting safe and healthy development of low-altitude economy industries

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

         Following is a question by the Hon Chan Siu-hung and a reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (July 16):

    Question:

    The National Development and Reform Commission has earlier on emphasised the expansion of application scenarios for low-altitude economic activities in a well-classified and orderly manner, on the premise that risks be stringently controlled and safety be ensured. On promoting the safe and healthy development of the low-altitude economy industries, will the Government inform this Council:

    (1) given that the establishment of a “visible and manageable” fully digitalised low-altitude airspace management system is a key element in managing and controlling the safe and orderly flights of a wide range of high-traffic-density and high-frequency aircrafts in the airspace, whether the Government has a timetable for the establishment of the system concerned; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

    (2) as there are views pointing out that the data derived from the low-‍altitude economy have high economic values, and data security will have a direct impact on the efficiency and safety of the use of airspace, whether the Government will study the establishment of a data security system to promote standardised management and the safe and efficient use of low-altitude data, as well as to facilitate the transformation of data value; and

    (3) whether it will, by drawing reference from the development experience in the Mainland and other places around the world, conduct quantitative analysis on the economic benefits brought about by low-altitude infrastructure and the related industries, and formulate a plan for development of such facilities through a public-‍private partnership approach, so as to attract more infrastructure investments; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

    Reply:

    President,

    Low-altitude economy (LAE) is a national strategic emerging industry and an example of developing new quality productive forces. For LAE to “fly far”, it must first “fly steady”. Therefore, safety is undoubtedly a prerequisite for LAE development.

    In consultation with the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau, the Development Bureau (DEVB) and the Civil Aviation Department, the reply to the Hon Chan’s question is as follows:

    (1) Robust low-altitude infrastructure is a critical element in ensuring the safe and orderly operation of low-altitude flying activities. Given Hong Kong’s unique urban landscape characterised by dense high-rise buildings and varied terrain, the low-altitude operating environment is particularly challenging. The establishment of digitalised low-altitude infrastructure, particularly the Smart Low-altitude Traffic Management System, coupled with the formulation of a comprehensive data policy, is essential to ensuring the safe, efficient, and sustainable development of LAE.

    Building on the experience gathered from the Regulatory Sandbox (Sandbox) pilot projects, the Government will formulate the conceptual model and technical specifications for a Smart Low-altitude Traffic Management System. To implement these plans, the Government will commence a technical study within this year, drawing on the Mainland and international advanced practices to ensure that the technical parameters of low-altitude infrastructure, including the Smart Low-altitude Traffic Management System, are compatible with regional and international regulatory standards.

    (2) The development of LAE will generate significant volumes of data resources such as flight data collected during unmanned aircraft operations, the secure and efficient utilisation of which will directly affect the industry’s development potential. In respect of data management and data security of government systems, the relevant bureaux and departments (B/Ds) at present must comply with the Government IT Security Policy and Guidelines, which require for example encrypting data both in transit and at rest, prohibiting the storage of sensitive and personal data on public cloud platforms, and conducting regular security risk assessments and audits as well as privacy impact assessments for B/Ds’ information systems. These measures aim to ensure that data are kept secure and reliable and meet all applicable legislative and regulatory requirements, including requirements on privacy protection of personal data.

    Given the above and in accordance with the open data policy of the Government, data collected by LAE projects can, depending on the circumstances, be made available to the public via the existing digital infrastructures such as the Open Data Portal and the Common Spatial Data Infrastructure Portal (CSDI), thereby fostering more LAE-related applications and industry development. In fact, a considerable amount of data beneficial to the development of the LAE, e.g. maps, aerial photographs, 3D spatial data, building data, traffic data and weather data, etc, has already been shared with the industry through the aforementioned government data platforms, facilitating various sectors to explore more application scenarios of low-altitude flying activities and unlock the full potential of the data.

    Furthermore, the DEVB, the Lands Department and relevant departments will jointly explore the feasibility of sharing LAE-related data through a unified platform, and build a three-dimensional information hub dedicated to low-altitude flying activities as a pilot project to conduct a proof-of-concept for sharing data collected by unmanned aircraft. This hub will make reference to the data sharing model of the Mainland and closely connect with the CSDI developed by the DEVB to unify and integrate data from different sources, and be equipped with relevant data dashboards to enable thematic information sharing between the Government and relevant stakeholders relating to low-altitude flying activities.

    (3) The development of low-altitude infrastructure is a forward-looking systematic project. Through government guidance and cross-sector collaboration, it can accelerate industrial upgrading and drive the robust growth of LAE. In addition to the investment of government resources, we believe that private market participation is also an indispensable driving force, particularly in areas such as the construction of takeoff/landing sites and the planning of mobile radio communications network. Drawing reference from the experiences and various models adopted in the Mainland and other regions, we will proceed step-by-step in taking forward the relevant work on the development of LAE infrastructure. Throughout this process, the Government will, on the premises of safeguarding aviation and public safety, explore various operational models conducive to the development of LAE to foster long-term economic benefits.

    At present, the Government is testing different low-altitude flying application scenarios, technical and site requirements, and cross-departmental regulatory co-ordination through the Sandbox pilot projects. The aims are to gather data, accumulate experience, and examine the infrastructure, safety standards, and legislative and regulatory framework necessary for LAE development, thereby providing trial experience and evidence-based foundation of various application scenarios for the planning of LAE development, including the feasible models for the construction of LAE infrastructure. Our vision is that while the Government creates a favourable ecosystem through top-level design, standard-setting, and institutional innovation, the private sector will drive industrial advancement through technological breakthrough and business model innovation. This public-private collaboration model will pave the way for the sustainable development of LAE in Hong Kong.

    Thank you, President.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected scheduled rhino horns worth about $1 million (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

    Hong Kong Customs on July 11 seized about 2.7 kilograms of suspected scheduled rhino horns, with an estimated market value of about $1 million, at Hong Kong International Airport.
     
    Through risk assessment, Customs officers inspected two air postal packets declared to contain “ceramic ornament statues” imported from Spain. Upon inspection, the suspected scheduled endangered rhino horns were found mingled with ceramic products inside the cartons.
     
    After a follow-up investigation, Customs officers arrested two men, aged 40 and 33, suspected to be connected with the case.
     
    The two arrested men will be charged with illegal import of an Appendix I species. They will appear at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (July 17).
     
    Under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, any person importing, exporting or possessing specimens of endangered species not in accordance with the Ordinance commits an offence and will be liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for 10 years upon conviction with the specimens forfeited.
     
    Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –