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Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Special traffic and transport arrangements for Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races in Tsim Sha Tsui East

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Special traffic and transport arrangements for Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races in Tsim Sha Tsui East
         Tsim Sha Tsui Landing No. 1 will be suspended from 8am on June 6 to noon on June 9, and Tsim Sha Tsui Landing Nos. 2 and 5 have been suspended until noon on June 9.
    Part of the non-franchised bus pick-up/drop-off points on Salisbury Road westbound opposite Wing On Plaza will be suspended from noon on June 5 to 11pm on June 8.
    The bus stops of KMB route Nos. 5A, 8P, 92R, 260X, 268B, 269B, HK1 and Citybus route Nos. 796X, A25, H1 on Salisbury Road westbound opposite Wing On Plaza will be suspended from 7.30am to 7.30pm on June 7 and from 7.30pm to 6pm on June 8. 
         The TD and the Police will closely monitor the traffic situation and implement appropriate measures when necessary. The public should pay attention to the latest traffic news through radio, television or “HKeMobility”.
    Issued at HKT 18:50

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ15: Regulation of premises providing Chinese-style wellness and health services

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Following is a question by Professor the Hon Chan Wing-kwong and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, in the Legislative Council today (June 4):

    Question:

    It has been reported that on March 20 this year, a woman had to be sent to hospital for treatment as she got burnt while receiving cupping service at a blind massage parlour in Sham Shui Po. It has also been learnt that at present quite a number of premises in the market providing beauty, hairdressing, massage, foot spa, wellness and health services (such premises) openly boast that they can provide customers with such services as tuina, bone-setting, pain relief, moxibustion, cupping and scraping. Regarding the regulation of premises providing Chinese-style wellness and health services, will the Government inform this Council:

    (1) of the number of complaints received by the authorities in relation to such premises and the follow-up situation in each of the past five years; among them, of the number of cases involving unlicensed medical practice, and the respective numbers of persons prosecuted and convicted;

    (2) of the measures taken by the authorities to regulate such premises; whether they have taken the initiative to inspect such premises in prevention of illegal medical practices at such premises; if so, of the number of inspections carried out by the authorities and the result in each of the past three years; and

    (3) whether the authorities will step up promotion and education efforts to prevent members of the public from inadvertently falling into the trap of illegal medical practice at such premises; if so, of the details?

    Reply:

    President,

    In consultation with the Security Bureau, I provide a consolidated reply to the question raised by Professor the Hon Chan Wing-kwong as follows:

    In order to safeguard public health and safety, a statutory regulatory system is in place for healthcare professions in Hong Kong. At present, there are 13 healthcare professions (Note) which are subject to statutory registration in order to practise in Hong Kong so as to ascertain that their qualifications are up to standards, and that their professional conducts are regulated by relevant statutory boards and councils. Any person who practises as these healthcare professions or uses these healthcare profession titles without registration may violate relevant laws.

    As mentioned in the question regarding services such as tui-na, bone manipulating, pain management, moxibustion, cupping and gua-sha, premises providing relevant services in the community can be broadly classified into two categories:

    (1) involving healthcare services which should be provided by the 13 healthcare professions under statutory registration or enrolment to provide services in accordance with their respective scope of practice, such as prescription of drugs, performance of medical procedures (for example, Chinese medicine treatment, physiotherapy or surgery); and

    (2) not providing healthcare services concerning the practice of healthcare professionals, such as solely providing services of massage, foot bathing, beauty or hairdressing.

    Statutory regulation of relevant healthcare facilities and/or healthcare professions

    As the services provided by premises under the first category mentioned above are healthcare services, hence these services should be subject to statutory regulation targeting relevant healthcare facilities and/or healthcare professions. As regards services commonly known as “bone manipulating” and “pain management”, they may be similar to the nature of treatments provided by Chinese medicine practitioners, physiotherapists and chiropractors under their respective scope of practice. Depending on the actual services performed, relevant legislation would come into play when healthcare services which must be provided by registered healthcare professionals are involved. This serves to prevent non-professionals from performing such acts so as to safeguard public health.

    The provision of a service will be considered as practising Chinese medicine if it involves the performance of any act or activities on the basis of traditional Chinese medicine in general practice, acupuncture or bone-setting as stipulated in the Chinese Medicine Ordinance (Cap. 549). Any person who is neither a registered nor listed Chinese medicine practitioner providing such service commits an offence and is liable to a fine at level 6 and imprisonment for three years. By the same token, any person who practises the profession of a physiotherapist as stipulated in the Supplementary Medical Professions Ordinance (Cap. 359) without registration commits an offence and is liable to a fine at level 2 and imprisonment for six months; whereas any person who is not listed in the register of registered chiropractors under the Chiropractors Registration Ordinance (Cap. 428) but practises chiropractic as defined in the Code of Practice by the Chiropractors Council commits an offence and is liable to a fine at level 5 and imprisonment for one year.

    Members of the public who suspect that someone is practising without registration and/or unlawfully using the title of a registered healthcare professional should report to the Police. The Department of Health (DH) and the statutory boards and councils of relevant healthcare professions will provide professional support to the Police as appropriate. Records concerning number of cases upon conclusion of prosecution process in relation to section 28 of the Medical Registration Ordinance (Cap. 161) and section 108 of the Chinese Medicine Ordinance (Cap. 549) during the period from 2020 to 2024 are tabulated in the Annex.

    Since 2018, the Private Healthcare Facilities Ordinance (PHFO) (Cap. 633) has regulated premises where registered medical practitioners and/or dentists practise. Operators are required to obtain a licence or a letter of exemption in order to operate the relevant private healthcare facilities. The existing law specifically covers premises of these two healthcare professions as their daily operation may very likely involve high-risk aspects such as blood management. It is therefore necessary to put in place the most stringent regulatory system under a risk-based principle in addition to the specific legislations regulating these two healthcare professions.  As of April 30, 2025, there are 14 licensed private hospitals and 259 licensed day procedure centres in Hong Kong. The Government is also implementing the regulatory regime for clinics and small practice clinics (SPCs) under the PHFO, and will begin to accept applications for a clinic licence and requests for a letter of exemption for a SPC from October 13, 2025 onwards.

    Regulation of facilities not providing healthcare services

    Regarding matters relating to premises under the second category mentioned above which do not involve healthcare services nor practice of healthcare professions, such premises should fulfill the requirements of other relevant legislation. For instance, the Massage Establishments Ordinance (Cap. 266) aims to regulate massage establishments through a licensing regime in order to prevent and combat vice or illegal prostitution activities committed by criminals in these establishments. At present, the requirement for a Massage Establishments Licence does not apply to a number of specified services such as salon, beauty salon and nursing home. The Government does not maintain relevant statistics for such facilities.

    To prevent the public from seeking improper treatment of certain conditions regardless of the type of premises which provides such services, the Undesirable Medical Advertisements Ordinance (Cap. 231) prohibits/restricts the publication of advertisements that will likely lead to the use of any medicine, surgical appliance or treatment for the purpose of treating or preventing diseases or conditions specified in Schedules 1 and 2 to the Ordinance. These include any disease of the musculo-skeletal system, including rheumatism, arthritis and sciatica. The DH has put in place an established mechanism for screening advertisements. Appropriate actions will be taken in accordance with the law against any contravention of the Undesirable Medical Advertisements Ordinance.

    The Government urges members of the public not to casually believe the claims of being able to offer so-called “treatment” from random persons who are not registered or accredited as healthcare professionals. Since the professional qualifications and standards of these persons have not been attested, the safety and effectiveness of the so-called “treatment” cannot be assured. It may even worsen the condition or cause injury. Before receiving healthcare services, members of the public can browse the online registers of the statutory boards and councils of relevant healthcare professions (www.dh.gov.hk/english/main/main_rhp/main_rhp.html) to ascertain the qualifications of service providers. If members of the public have doubts about the qualifications of the healthcare professionals, they can also request the person concerned to provide relevant certification documents in order to better protect their safety. The DH has enhanced public education and publicity, and urges members of the public to check the qualifications of service providers before receiving healthcare services and only to consult healthcare professionals being regulated.

    Note: These 13 healthcare professions are medical practitioners, dentists, nurses, Chinese medicine practitioners, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, medical laboratory technologists, optometrists, radiographers, chiropractors, dental hygienists, midwives and pharmacists.

    Ends/Wednesday, June 4, 2025
    Issued at HKT 15:40

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CHP investigates two probable cases of botulism

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    CHP investigates two probable cases of botulism 
      The second case involves a 50-year-old female patient. She presented with generalised weakness, bilateral ptosis and swallowing difficulty since May 27. She was admitted to United Christian Hospital on June 3 and is now in stable condition.
     
    Both patients were clinically suspected to have botulism caused by botulinum toxin injection.
     
         The preliminary investigation revealed that the two patients are friends. They claimed to have received injections of botulinum toxin for cosmetic purposes in private premises in Shenzhen around mid-May. They believed that the person who performed the injections was not a healthcare professional. Epidemiological investigations are still ongoing.
     
        In Hong Kong, botulinum toxin injections should only be performed by a locally registered doctor. Customers should verify the doctor’s full name against the list of registered doctors 
         Due to the weakening of the associated muscles and the fact that botulinum toxin may spread and affect other areas beyond the injection site, affected patients may have drooping eyelids, double or blurred vision, problems with chewing, hoarseness, or even difficulties in swallowing, speaking or breathing, which may happen hours, days or weeks after the injection.
     
         The CHP urged the public to observe the following health advice before receiving botulinum toxin injections:
    The public may visit the DH’s webpage on the     differentiation between medical procedures and beauty servicesIssued at HKT 18:55

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ7: Waiver of Government lease conditions

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ7: Waiver of Government lease conditions 
    Question:
     
    Under the current land administration system, the Lands Department (LandsD) may grant waivers to temporarily relax restrictions under Government Leases to allow the leaseholders to carry out activities which do not comply with the lease conditions in the premises concerned (waiver premises), subject to payment of waiver fees assessed on the basis of the annual difference in full market rental value of the premises before and after the issue of the waiver letter. According to the information on the website of the LandsD, the waiver fee will be reviewed from time to time pursuant to the terms and conditions set out in the waiver letters and/or prevailing departmental policy and practice. It is learnt that due to the continuing sluggish rental market since the COVID-19 pandemic, the rental income from waiver premises, particularly those in retail use, has fallen substantially, with the result that in many cases, the net rental income after payment of the waiver fee is reduced to an unsustainable level and, in some cases, the rental income is less than the waiver fee. Some members of the real estate and construction sector have relayed to me that applications for review (including reassessment) of the waiver fees have not been processed by the LandsD in a timely manner and some have been pending for over a year. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) whether the LandsD has taken the initiative, in the absence of applications for review of the waiver fees, carried out any periodic reviews of waiver fees in the past five years; if so, of the number of cases reviewed; if not, whether the LandsD will undertake to carry out such reviews, and of the frequency and mechanism for such reviews;
     
    (2) in the past five years, of the following information on the applications made for review (including reassessment) of waiver fees:
     
    (i) the numbers of applications received and processed, and the average time taken from the date of application received to the date of the completion of the review; and

    (ii) the number of outstanding applications, and the average time lapse since the date of application for such applications; and
     
    (3) as there are views that three-month period is a reasonable time for processing application for review of waiver fees, whether the LandsD will consider, in respect of applications which have been processed for more than three months and approved with reduced waiver fees, backdating the effective date of the new waiver fee to a date which is three months immediately after the date of application?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
    In general, the leases granted by the Government would specify requirements and restrictions on the use of the land and whether structures may be erected thereon. If an owner wishes to use the land within a certain time period for a purpose which is not in line with the lease condition or to erect temporary structures, they must first apply to the Lands Department (LandsD) for a waiver to temporarily relax the relevant restrictions, subject to payment of waiver fee and administrative fee. The waiver fee is assessed based on the difference in the market rental value of the relevant land or property before and after the waiver is granted, and waiverees are required to pay the waiver fees on a quarterly basis. Generally speaking, some waivers permitting the erection of structures on agricultural land are charged at standard rates.
     
    In response to the various parts of the question raised by the Hon Loong, my reply is as follows:
     
    (1) Under the current practice, waiver fees are generally reviewed every three years in accordance with the relevant terms of the waiver. The standard rates applicable to some waivers are also typically reviewed every three years. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the social environment, the Government implemented a series of relief measures between October 2019 and December 2023, including waiver fee concession of up to 75 per cent for waivers for commercial and community uses, as well as the suspension of the triennial fee review. As society returns to normalcy, such relief measures concluded at the end of 2023. The LandsD has resumed the collection of full waiver fees starting from January 2024.
     
    For orderly resumption of regular reviews of waiver fees, the LandsD, having reviewed the circumstances and consulted the Development Bureau, has started from April this year to resume the fee reviews in batches. In particular, among some 3 900 waivers:
     
    (i) the LandsD is prioritising the processing of around 2 630 waivers with original regular review cycles between April and June this year, with a view to completing the review within three months from the review cycles of the relevant waivers, and gradually notifying the waiverees of the review results. So far, the LandsD has completed the fee review for around 2 500 cases charged at standard rates, with the adjusted fees (an average reduction of about two per cent) reflected in the demand notes to be issued in June. For the remaining cases of around 130 waivers requiring individual assessment, the LandsD will complete the review within three months (i.e. gradually from July to September this year), and will gradually notify the waiverees of the review results.  
     
    (ii) As for the around 730 waivers originally scheduled for regular review in July 2025 or later, the LandsD will endeavour to complete the valuation within three months before the review cycle and notify the waiverees of the results in time before the review cycle in line with their usual practice.  
     
    (iii) As for the remaining around 540 waivers, their previous regular review cycle originally fell between January 2024 and March 2025 (based on the position after the relief measures were lifted in end-2023). However, in view of the LandsD’s resumption of review by batches since April this year, the first review cycle for this batch of cases after the end of 2023 has elapsed while the next cycle is expected to fall between 2027 and 2028. If the LandsD by then conducts the fee review for this batch of waivers, the relevant fee will in the coming two to three years still be based on the level determined in the previous review cycle (i.e. between 2018 and 2019) and hence fails to reflect the changes in the economic environment over the years. To allow flexibility for relevant waiverees, the LandsD will put in a place a special arrangement for this type of cases to allow the relevant waiverees to initiate a fee review application with the LandsD at this stage and provide supporting market evidence. The LandsD will then conduct the fee review and endeavour to, within three months upon receipt of the application, complete the review and notify the waiverees of the results. If the waiverees do not initiate an application, the LandsD will not conduct any fee review until the next review cycle (i.e. 2027 to 2028). The LandsD will issue notification letters in June this year to the relevant waiverees on the abovementioned arrangement.
     
    (2) As mentioned above, the LandsD suspended fee reviews for more than four years. Since the fee concession relief measures ended at the end of 2023, the LandsD has received 11 applications for waiver fee review. Among these, six cases were originally scheduled for fee review cycle between January 2024 and June 2025. The LandsD notified two of these waiverees of the results of the reviewed quarterly fees in May, and the valuation of the remaining four cases will be completed as soon as possible under the aforementioned arrangements, with results expected to be notified by August 2025. For the other five applications, as their review cycles are in July 2025 or later, the LandsD will conduct the fee reviews according to the original review cycle under the timetable as mentioned in part (1) (ii) of the reply above, targeting to complete them within three months before the review cycle.
     
    (3) Under the usual practice, the LandsD will complete the review and notify the waiverees the reviewed fee level before the review cycle falls due. Whether the fees are adjusted upward or downward, the adjusted fees will take effect in the review cycle upon expiry of the notice period (depending on the waiver terms, usually it is three months). Given the special background of this resumption of fee reviews, if the reviewed fees are lower than the current levels upon the resumption of reviews by the LandsD, the effective date will be backdated to the first applicable review cycle after the lifting of the relief measures in end-December 2023 so as to allow the industry to benefit from the reduced fees earlier. As an illustration, for a case with a review cycle on May 1, 2025, if the LandsD completes the review in August this year, the reduced waiver fee will take effect on May 1, 2025 while the increased waiver fee will take effect upon expiry of the notice period around November 2025. The new fees will be set out in the next demand notes, with any extra amount of fees paid after the effective date to be deducted in the next demand notes.
    Issued at HKT 17:38

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ18: Tai Lam Tunnel Bus-Bus Interchange

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Following is a question by the Hon Lam San-keung and a written reply by the Acting Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Liu Chun-san, in the Legislative Council today (June 4):

    Question:

    It is learnt that at present, there are stops at the Tai Lam Tunnel Bus-Bus Interchange (the Interchange) for most of the bus routes running from the Yuen Long and Tin Shui Wai areas to various places on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon via the Tai Lam Tunnel (TLT) to facilitate transfer to other bus routes. There are views that with the gradual completion of a number of development projects in Yuen Long, the passenger and bus flows at the Interchange are expected to increase continuously, causing traffic bottleneck and congestion problems. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

    (1) whether it has estimated the number of bus routes using the Interchange in the next five years;

    (2) whether it has studied converting the toll plaza of TLT into a major transport node to facilitate transfer to various modes of public transport for travelling to and from various districts; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

    (3) whether it has plans to construct a large car park (with motorcycle parking spaces) and cycle parking area in the vicinity of the Interchange to facilitate transfer to public transport, thereby reducing the vehicular flow of TLT?

    Reply:

    President,

    In respect of the questions raised by Hon Lam San-keung about the Tai Lam Tunnel Bus-Bus-Interchanges (TLTBBIs), having consulted the Transport Department (TD), my reply is as follows.

    (1) There are over 50 franchised bus routes observing the TLTBBIs. In the coming two years, two more franchised bus routes are expected to be introduced, and they will also observe the TLTBBIs for the convenience of passengers. TD and franchised bus operators will continue to closely monitor the actual usage of the TLTBBIs arising from changes in population in North West New Territories, and review the arrangements in a timely manner to meet the travelling needs of passengers.
    ​
    (2) and (3) The Government has all along been promoting the provision of park-and-ride facilities at suitable railway stations or nearby locations to encourage drivers to park their vehicles and switch to public transport, thereby reducing the flow of vehicles entering congested areas. Currently, there are approximately 590 parking spaces outside the Kam Sheung Road MTR Station near the TLTBBIs, offering park-and-ride discounts. There are also motorcycle and bicycle parking spaces next to the Station. Also, private car and motorcycle parking spaces are available near the TLTBBIs, facilitating the residents of Yuen Long and the North District in transferring to public transport for travel to urban areas of Kowloon and Hong Kong Island.

    The proposed development of a large-scale transport hub, parking facilities and bicycle parking as mentioned in the question requires comprehensive consideration of multiple factors, including seamless public transport transfers, connectivity to nearby roads and cycling networks, and whether there are other development opportunities that make the proposal more cost-effective and financially sustainable. As part of the Traffic and Transport Strategy Study, the Government is exploring the concept of a new generation of Transport Interchange Hub (TIH) under the “single site, multiple use” principle. This initiative aims to suitably provide park-and-ride facilities, bicycle parking spaces and storage facilities for electric mobility devices at TIHs. The TD is looking into suitable locations, including New Development Areas, for implementing the TIHs.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ1: Making good use of shoreline tourism resources

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is a question by the Hon Benson Luk and a reply by the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, in the Legislative Council today (June 4):

    Question:

         In May last year, the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council proposed that Hong Kong should establish the concept of “Tourism is everywhere in Hong Kong”, and in November of the same year, he advised that Hong Kong’s shoreline tourism resources should be put to good use. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

    (1) whether, according to the Government’s estimation, the “Round-the-Island Trail” developed on Hong Kong Island can be completed in 2031 as scheduled; how the Government will study with the MTR Corporation Limited the enhancement of the design of the ventilation building of the Airport Railway Extended Overrun Tunnel project, so as to minimise the impact on the waterfront promenade on Hong Kong Island and the Central Harbourfront Event Space, as well as the relevant design proposal and construction schedule;

    (2) given that a number of sections of the waterfront promenade in Kowloon are not connected (including the Yau Ma Tei Public Cargo Working Area, the Green Island Cement Pier, the Fishtail Rock in Hoi Sham Park and the waterfront gas facility off Grand Waterfront, etc), whether the authorities have plans to connect the entire shoreline of Kowloon in different modes; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

    (3) whether it has formulated mega event programmes for the proposed waterfront promenades and those under construction, and of the measures in place to facilitate the industry to set up long-term catering premises at such promenades?

    Reply:

    President,

         Hong Kong possesses abundant coastal resources, and Victoria Harbour and the harbourfront are world-famous. In consultation with the Transport and Logistics Bureau and the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, the reply to various parts of the question is as follows:

    (1) Regarding the construction of a 60-kilometre-long “Round-the-Island Trail” on the Hong Kong Island, 85 per cent has been connected thus far. It is estimated that 90 per cent would be connected by end-2027. The remaining 10 per cent, with a length of about six km and mainly including sections such as Shau Kei Wan to Heng Fa Chuen and Brick Hill to Mills & Chung Path, involves works that require relatively more technical considerations and are more complicated (such as slope improvement), which we will strive to substantially complete by end-2031.

         The Airport Railway Extended Overrun Tunnel project refers to a proposal to construct a tunnel of around 500 metres long beneath Lung Wo Road to the east of the Hong Kong Station in Central for trains to turn back so as to enhance the train carrying capacities and operation efficiency of the existing railway lines. Facilities under the project will mostly be constructed underground, while the ventilation cum emergency access building will be constructed aboveground, with a site area of about 1 200 square metres. The Government and the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) are proactively optimising the project, including the overall design of the concerned facilities, with a view to minimising the footprint and height of the ventilation cum emergency access building, and also minimising the works area needed during construction. The target is to ensure that the permanent and temporary facilities of the concerned project would not need to, as far as practicable, occupy the existing Central Harbourfront Event Space (CHES), site area of which is some 36 000 sqm, or to minimise the overlapping area between the concerned project and the CHES. The Government and the MTRCL will report the latest progress and the construction timetable of the project to the stakeholders in the second half of the year.

    (2) For the Victoria Harbourfront in Kowloon from Cheung Sha Wan to Lei Yue Mun, the developable waterfront has a length of about 21 km, which excludes the about 6km-long waterfront areas currently occupied by existing facilities. After years of efforts by the Government and various sectors, about 65 per cent of the harbourfront has been connected at present, including sections in Tai Kok Tsui, the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD), Tsim Sha Tsui, Cha Kwo Ling, etc. By end-2028, with the addition of sections along the harbourfront in Kai Tak as well as at the former freight yard pier site in Hung Hom, nearly 80 per cent will be connected. The remaining 20 per cent of the waterfront, such as Yau Tong Bay Comprehensive Development Area and some other harbourfront sections in Kai Tak, will be developed along with private development projects at the respective locations.

         We will maintain our efforts regarding the aforementioned 6-km waterfront areas in the south of the Kowloon peninsula currently occupied by existing facilities. Subject to technical feasibility, we will improve harbourfront connectivity through other means. For example, we are constructing a pedestrian walkway along the inland boundary of the New Yau Ma Tei Public Cargo Working Area to link up the WKCD and the Tai Kok Tsui harbourfront. Upon completion next year, the pedestrian walkway will be opened to the public. As for the harbourfront connectivity of other locations, we will commence the Study on East Kowloon Harbourfront Trail in the near future, riding on the opportunities brought about by the newly amended Protection of the Harbour Ordinance (Cap. 531), and exploring to further connect harbourfront sections in Hung Hom and To Kwa Wan that are not yet accessible, including those locations mentioned in the question raised by the Member. Besides, the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) has initiated the To Kwa Wan Harbourfront Study, which is a holistic planning covering the hinterland of To Kwa Wan, waterfront spaces and the adjacent water body, in order to explore improving the connectivity between the hinterland and the harbourfront, in addition to utilising harbourfront resources. We will co-ordinate and join forces with the URA on these fronts.

    (3) Many venues within the Victoria Harbourfront are suitable for hosting mega events and activities of various types. For instance, the CHES has been a venue frequently used for hosting a considerable number of signature events over the years; the WKCD has more than 20 indoor and outdoor venues, attracting different types of large-scale events; the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade and the Avenue of Stars are also venues where leisure and entertainment activities are frequently held, such as music, film and arts and cultural events. The 15th National Games will be held in November this year, of which a number of competition events will take place in Hong Kong. Amongst them, the Triathlon event will be staged at the Central harbourfront and Victoria Harbour, which would allow spectators to watch the event while experiencing the natural beauty and vibrancy of Victoria Harbour.

         Regarding food and beverages facilities at the harbourfront, we set up smart specialty vending facilities with distinctive exterior designs for photo-taking at the harbourfront in Wan Chai, Kwun Tong and Cha Kwo Ling last year, offering light snacks, drinks and gadgets. We are partnering with WestK Enterprise Limited in recent months to invite interested operators, through expression of interest, to set up refreshment stalls at four harbourfront locations with relatively more frequent flow of visitors in Central, Wan Chai, North Point and Tsim Sha Tsui within this year. Furthermore, we will revitalise the former freight yard pier site in Hung Hom into a special event space and open it for public use in the first quarter of next year. In the longer term, we have already released the preliminary land use proposal on the long-term development of the former pier site in Hung Hom and the sites around Hung Hom Station earlier; and we are also carrying out a study on the use of the topside development of the Exhibition Centre Station in Wan Chai North. Both projects will involve introducing food and beverages, retail and entertainment facilities of sizeable scale at the harbourfront, and continue to make good use of harbourfront resources to create new highlights for Hong Kong.

         Thank you, President.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ2: Development of fintech

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is a question by the Hon Robert Lee and a reply by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, in the Legislative Council today (June 4):
     
    Question:
     
         It is learnt that there are currently over 1 100 fintech companies in Hong Kong, including eight licensed digital banks, four virtual insurers and 10 virtual asset trading platforms. Regarding the development of fintech, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) of the plans in place to assist licensed fintech companies in expanding their operations and developing products, such as assisting them in expanding their service scope to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, promoting the asset-under-management size and turnover of Exchange Traded Funds on Virtual Asset (VA), enhancing the international competitiveness and attractiveness of VA-related products, as well as developing more futures and options products for VAs, etc;
     
    (2) whether it will urge the regulators to allow institutional and retail investors to participate in more VA transactions of different types and currencies and relax the eligibility requirements for professional investors, as well as include VAs as assets under the Securities and Futures (Financial Resources) Rules, so as to facilitate the development of the VA market; and
     
    (3) how the Government will formulate enhancement measures in the three aspects of regulatory statute, tax concessions as well as publicity and promotion, so as to further attract large-scale international fintech companies to establish presence in Hong Kong, and of the plans in place to assist the financial services industry in introducing fintech in order to enhance operational efficiency and reduce costs, thereby promoting the upgrading and transformation of the industry?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
         As an international financial centre with a robust regulatory environment and abundant business opportunities, Hong Kong is an ideal location for promoting the development of fintech. The Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) and the financial regulators maintain close communication with the industry to understand their development needs, with a view to formulating appropriate measures to facilitate the development of fintech.

         My reply to the various parts of the question is as follows:
     
    (1) To facilitate the continuous and vibrant development of fintech enterprises in Hong Kong, we have adopted a multi-pronged strategy including enhancing Hong Kong’s financial infrastructure, building a vibrant fintech ecosystem, nurturing fintech talents, and strengthening our connection and co-operation with the industry in the Mainland and overseas, with a view to creating and providing a conducive environment, thereby promoting fintech innovation and application.
     
         On advancing investment products related to virtual assets (VAs), the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) authorised the first batch of VA futures exchange traded funds (ETFs) for retail investor trading in December 2022, Asia’s first batch of VA spot ETFs in April 2024, as well as Asia’s first VA futures inverse product in July 2024. These products have broadened the product diversity of the Hong Kong market, further enhancing Hong Kong’s position as Asia’s leading ETF market.
     
         Besides, in February 2025, the SFC promulgated the “ASPIRe” roadmap, aspiring to strengthening the security, innovation and growth of the market in Hong Kong. One of the focuses of the roadmap is to expand the range of VA products and services, so as to fulfil the need of various types of investors under the prerequisite of investor protection, while enhancing the international competitiveness and attractiveness of Hong Kong’s VA market.
     
         The specific measures of the roadmap includes allowing staking services involving VA within systems with sufficient protection measures, to enable for investors to earn additional returns. In this regard, the SFC provided regulatory guidance respectively to licensed VATPs (virtual asset trading platform) on their provision of staking services, and to SFC-authorised funds with exposure to VA (VA Funds) on their engagement in staking. On April 10, 2025, the SFC allowed two licensed VATPs to provide staking services to clients through the imposition of relevant licensing conditions, which was followed by two SFC-authorised VA spot ETFs updating their fund documents in April and May 2025 for their engagement in staking activities.
     
         The SFC is also considering introducing VA derivatives trading for professional investors and will put in place robust risk management measures. These measures will further enrich the product options available in the Hong Kong market while ensuring that transactions are conducted in an orderly, transparent and safe manner.
     
         In light of the latest development of the VA market, the FSTB will promulgate the second Policy Statement on development of VA, articulating the next-step policy vision and direction, including exploring how to leverage the advantages of traditional financial services and innovative technologies in the area of VAs, enhance security and flexibility of real economy activities, and encourage local and international companies to explore the innovation and application of VA technologies.
     
         As for assisting fintech companies in expanding business, the Invest Hong Kong works closely with industry players to conduct publicity and promotion in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, including participating in major fintech events in the region, as well as connecting with local government departments, regulators, industry associations and innovation and technology parks, with a view to promoting advantages of Hong Kong fintech companies and further expanding into the Mainland market.
     
    (2) Currently, before including any VAs for trading, licensed VATP operators should perform all reasonable due diligence on these VAs, and ensure that these VAs continue to satisfy all criteria. Before providing any VA for retail trading, VATPs should take all reasonable steps to ensure the selected VAs are of high liquidity. The relevant requirements seek to provide sufficient protection for investors (especially retail investors). The SFC will continue to asset the potential risks of VAs in respect of volatility, liquidity, and market manipulation, etc, and keep a close watch of relevant international regulatory development, so as to review the aforementioned requirements. Further, in light of VAs’ nature, characteristics and risks, we will continuously evaluate whether the requirements relating to prudential treatment of VA exposures are in line with those in other jurisdictions.
     
         In respect of professional investors’ qualifying criteria and minimum monetary threshold requirements, the SFC has conducted a review during 2019/20. The outcome of the review was that the current minimum monetary thresholds were simple and easy-to-interpret and appropriately reflected an investor’s loss absorption ability, as well as being in line with those in comparable jurisdictions (such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore and Australia). We will continue to evaluate whether the professional investor qualification requirements are in line with those in comparable jurisdictions.
     
         It should be noted that with the International Organization of Securities Commissions’ (IOSCO) publication of its Final Report with Policy Recommendations for Crypto and Digital Asset Markets in November 2023, the IOSCO recommends that regulatory frameworks should seek to achieve regulatory outcomes for investor protection and market integrity that are the same as, or consistent with, those required in traditional financial markets, which is an approach adopted by the SFC since as early as 2018.
     
    (3) To attract more large-scale international fintech companies to establish presence in Hong Kong, the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES) offers one-stop services and special facilitation measures. On regulation, the OASES assists companies in understanding the licensing and regulatory framework of the relevant sectors and co-ordinates with the financial regulators when necessary to facilitate the licence applications. Regarding tax benefits, the OASES shares with companies information of applicable tax benefits and funding schemes and connects companies with the higher education institutions, research and development institutions and innovation and technology parks, with a view to expediting their business development in Hong Kong. Separately, we will further enhance the preferential tax regimes for funds, single family offices and carried interest, including the inclusion of VAs as qualifying transactions eligible for tax concessions. As for publicity and promotion, the OASES actively engages overseas and the Mainland strategic enterprises to introduce the advantages and policies in relation to fintech in Hong Kong through organising regular duty visits and enterprise exchange activities, thereby attracting more high-potential fintech companies to Hong Kong.
     
         The Government has been working closely with the financial regulators and industry players to actively promote the financial services sector to adopt fintech through multi-pronged measures. According to a survey in 2023, the adoption rate of generative AI in Hong Kong was the highest (38 per cent) among all markets and well above the global average (26 per cent). In October 2024, we issued a policy statement on the responsible application of AI in the financial market. Since the policy statement was issued, we have introduced various initiatives to assist the financial institutions in seizing the opportunities and adopting AI responsibly, including publishing practical guidelines, launching sandbox schemes, as well as organising seminars and talks.
     
         The Government and financial regulators will continue to maintain close liaison with the industry and assess their needs for fintech, with a view to formulating the corresponding support measures for facilitating the development of new quality productive forces.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ11: Default payments of Mandatory Provident Fund contributions by employers

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is a question by the Hon Paul Tse and a written reply by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, in the Legislative Council today (June 4):
     
    Question:
     
         It has been reported that, while default payments of Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) contributions by employers are considered as a “bad omen for closure of businesses”, the number of such cases has been rising in recent years. In 2022, the number of “Payment Notice for Mandatory Provident Fund Contributions and Surcharge” (Payment Notice(s)) issued by the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) to employers defaulting on MPF contributions was about 340 000, and such number had increased to about 370 000 in 2023 and even reached about 400 000 last year, representing an average annual increase of about eight per cent. Also, the amount of default contributions which could not be recovered last year was as much as $13 million. What is more, the increasing trend of cases of employers defaulting on MPF contributions is in line with the trend of closure of businesses. According to information from the Companies Registry, from 2022 to 2024, about 88 000, 94 000 and 116 000 companies were dissolved in Hong Kong respectively. On the other hand, there are views that among the 400 000 cases of employers defaulting on MPF contributions last year, the MPFA only filed 1 432 civil claims and issued 352 summonses for criminal prosecution, which indicated a low percentage of prosecutions. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) whether it has studied the reasons why the aforesaid number of cases of employers defaulting on MPF contributions, which is considered as a bad omen for closure of businesses, increased drastically to about 400 000 last year; as there are views pointing out that the aforesaid situation is very much different from the Government’s view that the economic trend continues to be positive, whether the Government has explored the reasons for such a huge difference;
     
    (2) whether it knows why the MPFA has filed civil claims and instituted criminal prosecutions in respect of only a very small number of employers defaulting on MPF contributions, and the criteria based on which the MPFA determines to file civil claims or institute criminal prosecution in respect of the cases of default contributions;
     
    (3) given that default payments of MPF contributions is a criminal offence and the employers concerned are liable on conviction to imprisonment of a maximum of four years, and there are views that employers will not default on MPF contributions unless they are left with no alternative, and therefore the situation of employers defaulting on MPF contributions can be taken as a prediction of the economic outlook, whether the Government knows if the MPFA will consider publicising on a monthly basis the number of Payment Notices it has issued, or compiling a list of enterprises defaulting on MPF contributions for a prolonged period of time, e.g. more than six months, to enable the various sectors of the community to have an early grasp of the economic situation of Hong Kong; and
     
    (4) there are views pointing out that given the current operating conditions of enterprises which are even worse than those of the period during the epidemic, the continued bad omens for closure of businesses, increasing number of affected unemployed persons, and the unemployment rate which has risen to 3.4 per cent, whether the authorities will consider allowing business operators and enterprises with similar operating difficulties as mentioned above, as well as their employees, to temporarily suspend their MPF contributions, so as to alleviate the burdens on employers and employees and prevent “the wave of closure of businesses” from spreading?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
         One of the important functions of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) is to ensure that employers fulfil their statutory responsibility of making the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) contributions for their employees on time, so as to protect the interests of employees. Based on various sources of information, including reports from trustees on default contribution cases, employee complaints, referrals from trade unions, media reports, etc, the MPFA will issue “Payment Notices for MPF Contributions and Surcharge” (Payment Notices) in accordance with statutory requirements to employers who are suspected of failing to make timely MPF contributions, and initiate investigations as needed. Once it is verified that an employer has defaulted on making contributions, the MPFA will recover the default contributions and impose a surcharge calculated at five per cent of the default amount, which will be allocated in full to the affected employees’ MPF accounts upon successful recovery.
     
         In consultation with the MPFA, the reply to the four parts of the question is as follows:
     
    (1) According to Payment Notices issued by the MPFA to employers in the past, most cases involved administrative issues, such as incomplete or incorrect information in submitted documents, calculation errors, failure to receive contributions by trustees due to technical issues, etc. Moreover, an employer who continuously defaults on contributions will receive multiple Payment Notices. It is therefore not appropriate to rely solely on the number of Payment Notices issued by the MPFA to assess the overall situation of employers defaulting on contributions or Hong Kong’s overall economic condition. Nevertheless, we agree that all cases of defaulting on MPF contributions should be taken seriously.
     
    (2) In 2024-25, the MPFA issued a total of around 400 000 Payment Notices to employers, with around 25 per cent of the cases having settled their default contributions and surcharges within the time limit (i.e. two weeks after Payment Notices were issued). For the remaining cases where the employers were confirmed to be in arrears after the time limit, almost all of them settled the outstanding payments upon the MPFA’s communication and request. The MPFA was only required to recover outstanding payments from a small proportion of these cases (about 1 700 cases) by taking legal actions through civil proceedings. Should these employers fail to settle the default contributions even after the court rulings, the MPFA would take further legal actions, including applying to the court for charging orders, garnishee orders, requesting actions from the bailiff, etc. In the aforesaid year, the MPFA successfully recovered around $200 million of default contributions, whereas around $10 million of default contributions were not recovered, representing about 0.01 per cent of the total contributions made. In addition, to enhance deterrence, the MPFA prosecutes non-compliant employers if sufficient evidence is found during investigation, and the complainant is willing to become a prosecution witness and provide relevant information. In 2024-25, a total of around 280 summonses were issued against employers and directors and managers of limited corporations who had defaulted on contributions. There were about 180 successful convictions with fines imposed for each case ranging from $1,000 to $5,000.
     
    (3) To enhance transparency, the MPFA has regularly published relevant figures on default MPF contributions. For instance, the MPFA reports monthly to the Legislative Council Panel on Manpower the number of complaints received for employers’ default contributions, the number of Payment Notices issued to employers, the number of cases filed in courts, etc. Such information is also published on the MPFA’s website for public inspection. In addition, the MPFA provides on its website a “Non-Compliant Employer and Officer Records”, which enables the public to access information about non-compliant employers, as well as relevant civil and criminal court rulings, thereby strengthening the deterrence against non-compliant employers. To further safeguard the interests of employees, the MPFA has submitted to the Government the proposal on implementing a tiered surcharge for default MPF contributions. The Government will give due consideration and follow up as appropriate.
     
    (4) There are currently no provisions in the legislation providing for the suspension or deferral of part or all of the mandatory contributions. The suspension of mandatory MPF contributions will inevitably undermine the integrity of the MPF System as a long-term and steady retirement savings scheme for the accumulation of benefits and value growth. Not only will implementing this proposal reduce the retirement protection of employees, but also the support provided to employers is limited. The Government considers it inappropriate to implement the recommendation after analysing and weighing carefully its long-term implications.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AMENDMENTS 029-031 – REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2023/956 as regards simplifying and strengthening the carbon border adjustment mechanism – A10-0085/2025(029-031)

    Source: European Parliament

    AMENDMENTS 029-031
    REPORT
    on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2023/956 as regards simplifying and strengthening the carbon border adjustment mechanism
    (COM(2025)0087 – C10-0035/2025 – 2025/0039(COD))
    Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety
    Rapporteur: Antonio Decaro

    Source : © European Union, 2025 – EP

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AMENDMENTS 028-028 – REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2023/956 as regards simplifying and strengthening the carbon border adjustment mechanism – A10-0085/2025(028-028)

    Source: European Parliament

    AMENDMENTS 028-028
    REPORT
    on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2023/956 as regards simplifying and strengthening the carbon border adjustment mechanism
    (COM(2025)0087 – C10-0035/2025 – 2025/0039(COD))
    Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety
    Rapporteur: Antonio Decaro

    Source : © European Union, 2025 – EP

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AMENDMENTS 013-015 – REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2023/956 as regards simplifying and strengthening the carbon border adjustment mechanism – A10-0085/2025(013-015)

    Source: European Parliament

    AMENDMENTS 013-015
    REPORT
    on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2023/956 as regards simplifying and strengthening the carbon border adjustment mechanism
    (COM(2025)0087 – C10-0035/2025 – 2025/0039(COD))
    Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety
    Rapporteur: Antonio Decaro

    Source : © European Union, 2025 – EP

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AMENDMENTS 026-027 – REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2023/956 as regards simplifying and strengthening the carbon border adjustment mechanism – A10-0085/2025(026-027)

    Source: European Parliament

    AMENDMENTS 026-027
    REPORT
    on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2023/956 as regards simplifying and strengthening the carbon border adjustment mechanism
    (COM(2025)0087 – C10-0035/2025 – 2025/0039(COD))
    Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety
    Rapporteur: Antonio Decaro

    Source : © European Union, 2025 – EP

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AMENDMENTS 009-012 – REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2023/956 as regards simplifying and strengthening the carbon border adjustment mechanism – A10-0085/2025(009-012)

    Source: European Parliament

    AMENDMENTS 009-012
    REPORT
    on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2023/956 as regards simplifying and strengthening the carbon border adjustment mechanism
    (COM(2025)0087 – C10-0035/2025 – 2025/0039(COD))
    Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety
    Rapporteur: Antonio Decaro

    Source : © European Union, 2025 – EP

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: Resolutions of the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of Aktsiaselts Infortar

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Aktsiaselts Infortar (registry code 10139414, seat and address Liivalaia 9, 10118 Tallinn), held its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (hereinafter the General Meeting) on June 4, 2025 at 11:00 (Estonian time) at the conference centre of Tallink SPA & Conference Hotel at Sadama 11a, Tallinn.

    45 shareholders were registered as attending at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, who owned 17,562,509 votes/shares (the amount of represented share capital 1,756,250.90 EUR), forming 85,91% of Aktsiaselts Infortar share capital.

    1. Approval of the 2024 Annual Report
    Approve the 2024 Annual Report of Aktsiaselts Infortar submitted by the Management Board.

    In favour of the resolution voted 100% of the votes represented at the meeting (17,561,838 votes).

    2.    Deciding on the distribution of profit
    Approve the following proposal for the distribution of profit submitted by the Management Board of Aktsiaselts Infortar:
    2.1. Approve the net profit for 2024 in the amount 193,670 thousand euros;
    2.2. Pay the Shareholders dividend 3 euros per share. Dividend shall be paid in two parts as follows:
    2.2.1. 1.5 euros per share shall be paid to the Shareholders who have been entered in the list of Shareholders on 4 July 2025 at the end of the business day of the settlement system of the securities registrar (record-date). Consequently, the day of change of the rights related to the shares (ex-date) is 3 July 2025. Dividend shall be paid to the Shareholders on 15 July 2025 by transfer to the bank account of the Shareholder;
    2.2.2. 1.5 euros per share shall be paid to the Shareholders who have been entered in the list of Shareholders on 4 December 2025 at the end of the business day of the settlement system of the securities registrar (record-date). Consequently, the day of change of the rights related to the shares (ex-date) is 3 December 2025. Dividend shall be paid to the Shareholders on 15 December 2025 by transfer to the bank account of the Shareholder.

    In favour of the resolution voted 99,99% of the votes represented at the meeting (17,561,561 votes).

    3. Appointment of an auditor for the 2025 financial year and determination of the procedure of remuneration of an auditor
    Appoint the company of auditors KPMG Baltics OÜ to conduct the audit of Aktsiaselts Infortar in the financial year 2025 and to remunerate the work according to the audit contract to be concluded with the auditor.

    In favour of the resolution voted 99,99% of the votes represented at the meeting (17,561,388 votes).

    4.    Deciding on conduction of the Option Plan
    Terminate the share option plan of Aktsiaselts Infortar approved by resolution no. 6 of the Annual General Meeting of the Shareholders held on 15 June 2021 and the conclusion of option agreements under this plan prematurely as of 30 June 2025. To approve the implementation of a new share option plan of Aktsiaselts Infortar and to grant the Supervisory Board the right to establish the new share option plan under the following principles (“Option Plan”):
    4.1. The purpose of the Option Plan is to motivate the management and employees of Aktsiaselts Infortar by involving them as Shareholders, thereby enabling them to benefit from the increase in the value of the shares as a result of their work. The Option Plan applies to Aktsiaselts Infortar and its group entities in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, and Poland. The Supervisory Board of Aktsiaselts Infortar may decide to extend the Option Plan to group entities in other countries.
    4.2. The term of the Option Plan is four (4) years, and options (“Options”) may be granted and option agreements concluded under the Option Plan from 1 July 2025 until 1 July 2029. Should an Entitled Person (as defined below) fail to conclude an option agreement within the aforementioned period, they shall lose the right to acquire the Options made available to them.
    4.3. Under the Option Plan, Aktsiaselts Infortar shall have the right to issue up to 400,000 Options for the acquisition of 400,000 shares, representing up to 1,89% of the share capital of Aktsiaselts Infortar.
    4.4. Entitled Persons under the Option Plan (“Entitled Persons”) shall be:
    (a) Members of the Supervisory Board of Aktsiaselts Infortar, whereby the granting of Options and the number of Options to be granted to specific members of the Supervisory Board shall be determined annually by the General Meeting by a separate resolution, provided that no Supervisory Board member shall acquire more than 4000 Options per year during the term of the Option Plan;
    (b) Members of the Management Board of Aktsiaselts Infortar appointed by the Supervisory Board, whereby the number of Options to be granted to each Management Board member shall be determined annually by the Supervisory Board by a separate resolution, provided that no Management Board member shall acquire more than 4000 Options per year during the term of the Option Plan;
    (c) Employees of Aktsiaselts Infortar and members of management bodies and employees of group companies, as designated by the Supervisory Board, or by the Management Board if so delegated by the Supervisory Board, whereby the number of Options to be granted to each such person shall be determined annually by the Supervisory Board or the Management Board (in case of delegation) by a separate resolution, provided that no such Entitled Person shall acquire more than 4000 Options per year during the term of the Option Plan.
    4.5. Generally, Options issued under the Option Plan cannot be exercised, and the underlying shares cannot be acquired, before the 3-year vesting period has passed from the grant of the Option. A prerequisite for exercising the Option is that the Entitled Person remains a member of a management body or an employee of Aktsiaselts Infortar or any of its subsidiaries at the time of exercising the Option.
    4.6. Each Option granted under the Option Plan entitles the Entitled Person to acquire one (1) share of Aktsiaselts Infortar upon fulfilment of the preconditions for exercising the Option. In the event of a change in the nominal value of shares, the number of shares granted under each Option shall be adjusted accordingly. The price payable for the shares upon exercising the Options shall be determined annually by decision of the Supervisory Board before the issuance of Options and the conclusion of option agreements for the respective year, provided that the price of the share option must be at least 26 euros per share and represent at least 50% of the weighted average stock exchange price of the  share option over the six-month period preceding 1 June of the calendar year in which the option agreement is concluded. In the case of Options being granted to members of the Supervisory Board, the price per share shall be determined by the General Meeting based on the same principles.
    4.7. The implementation and administration of the Option Plan shall be managed by the Supervisory Board of Aktsiaselts Infortar which shall establish the terms and conditions of the Option Plan by its resolution, following the principles approved by this resolution. The Supervisory Board may delegate decision-making and actions related to the implementation of the Option Plan to the Management Board of Aktsiaselts Infortar. 
    4.8. For the fulfilment of the Option Plan and the acquisition of shares to be transferred to Entitled Persons upon exercise of Options:
    (a) New shares may be issued under the authorisation granted to the Supervisory Board by resolution no. 5 of the Annual General Meeting of the Shareholders, which shall be issued to the Entitled Persons; or
    (b) Own shares held by Aktsiaselts Infortar may be used, including own shares acquired by Aktsiaselts Infortar under the authorisation granted by resolution no. 6 of the Annual General Meeting of the Shareholders.

    In favour of the resolution voted 99,99% of the votes represented at the meeting (17,561,331 votes).

    5.    Amendment of the Articles of Association and exclusion of the pre-emptive subscription right of the Shareholders
    Decide to grant the Supervisory Board the right to increase the share capital for the purpose of issuing new shares necessary to fulfil the conditions of the Option Plan approved by resolution no. 4 of the Annual General Meeting of the Shareholders and to amend the Articles of Association accordingly and to exclude the pre-emptive subscription right of Shareholders upon each increase of the share capital if the Supervisory Board increases the share capital of Aktsiaselts Infortar under the authorisation given by the Articles of Association for the implementation of the Option Plan:
    5.1. Amend clause 2.1.2 of the Articles of Association with the following wording:
    „The supervisory board of the company has the right, within three (3) years from 1 July 2025, to increase the share capital through contributions by up to 500,000 euros in accordance with the procedure set out by law.“
    5.2. Shareholders shall exclude their pre-emptive subscription right in respect of shares issued by the Supervisory Board pursuant to the authorisation granted in clause 5.1 of this resolution, in accordance with § 345 (1) of the Commercial Code, and the right to subscribe for shares shall be granted to the Entitled Persons to the share option under the Option Plan approved by resolution no. 4 of the Annual General Meeting of the Shareholders for the purpose of ensuring the implementation of the Option Plan.

    In favour of the resolution voted 99,99% of the votes represented at the meeting (17,561,357 votes).

    6.    Deciding on the acquisition of own shares
    Grant Aktsiaselts Infortar the right to acquire its own shares under the following conditions:
    6.1. Aktsiaselts Infortar shall have the right to acquire its own shares within five (5) years from the adoption of this resolution under a buy-back programme as defined in Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (Market Abuse Regulation) and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 2016/1052, by purchasing the shares through Nasdaq Tallinn Stock Exchange. The acquired shares may be used for fulfilling obligations arising from the Option Plan approved by resolution no. 4 of the Annual General Meeting of the Shareholders;
    6.2. The maximum number of shares to be repurchased shall be 250,000 shares, the total nominal value of which corresponds to 1,18% of the share capital of Aktsiaselts Infortar;
    6.3. The minimum price per share to be paid by Aktsiaselts Infortar shall be no less than 0 euros and the maximum price shall not exceed the average stock exchange price of the share of Aktsiaselts Infortar of the last 30 trading days preceding the relevant buy-back transaction by more than fifty percent (50%); and
    6.4. The acquisition of own shares by Aktsiaselts Infortar must not cause the net assets to become less than the total of share capital and reserves which pursuant to law or the Articles of Association shall not be paid out to shareholders.
    6.5. To authorise the Management Board to decide and execute share buy-backs in accordance with this resolution and applicable laws, to determine the buy-back price, procedure and other conditions, and to carry out all necessary actions.

    In favour of the resolution voted 99,99% of the votes represented at the meeting (17,561,308 votes).

    Infortar operates in seven countries, the company’s main fields of activity are maritime transport, energy and real estate. Infortar owns a 68.47% stake in Tallink Grupp, a 100% stake in Elenger Grupp and a versatile and modern real estate portfolio of approx. 141,000 m2. In addition to the three main areas of activity, Infortar also operates in construction and mineral resources, agriculture, printing, and other areas. A total of 110 companies belong to the Infortar group: 101 subsidiaries, 4 affiliated companies and 5 subsidiaries of affiliated companies. Excluding affiliates, Infortar employs 6,296 people.

    Additional information:

    Kadri Laanvee
    Investor Relations Manager
    Phone: +372 5156662
    e-mail: kadri.laanvee@infortar.ee
    www.infortar.ee/en/investor

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: DIAGNOS Welcomes Former White House Economic Adviser Dr. Tomas J. Philipson to its Advisory Board for the US Market

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BROSSARD, Quebec, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Diagnos Inc. (“DIAGNOS” or the “Corporation”) (TSX Venture: ADK, OTCQB: DGNOF, FWB: 4D4A), a pioneer in early detection of critical health issues using advanced technology based on Artificial Intelligence (AI), is thrilled to announce that Dr. Tomas J. Philipson has joined the Corporation’s Advisory Board.

    Dr. Tomas J. Philipson is considered an expert in US economic policy, particularly health care policy and appears often on major media outlets, including Forbes, The Economist, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, CNN, BBC, CBS, ABC, CNBC, Fox News, Fox Business, Newsmax, Yahoo Finance, American Voice, Bloomberg, and CSPAN.

    He currently serves as Managing Partner of the VC firm MEDA Ventures, serves on several corporate boards, and has co-founded several companies, including Precision Health Economics LLC, with an exit in 2015 (currently owned by Blackstone).

    His government service includes a full-time position as vice chairman and acting chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers 2017-20. He previously served as a senior economic adviser to the head of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and a senior economic advisor to the head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Dr. Philipson was appointed to the Key Indicator Commission by the Speaker of the House of Representatives in 2012. He was a scientific advisor to the House of Representatives initiative 21st Century Cures in 2015 and The Biden Cancer Initiative in 2017. He served as a healthcare advisor to Senator John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign.

    He received numerous worldwide research awards while he was a chaired professor at the University of Chicago. He is a two-time winner of the Arrow Award of The International Health Economics Association, the highest honor in health economics. Other awards include the Garfield Award for Economic Research, the Prêmio Haralambos Simeonidis from the Brazilian Economic Association, and the Milken Institute’s Distinguished Economic Research Award.

    He received a B.A. in mathematics from Uppsala University in Sweden, an MA in Mathematics from Claremont Graduate School, and an MA and Ph.D. in Economics from the Wharton School and the University of Pennsylvania.

    “We are honored to welcome Dr. Philipson to our Advisor Board,” said André Larente, President and CEO of DIAGNOS. “His extensive experience at the highest levels of government and business savvy brings a vital perspective to today’s policy challenges, from healthcare innovation to long-term economic competitiveness.”

    Mr. Larente added, “DIAGNOS has built an AI platform to analyze retina images, these images are taken by thousands of optometrists worldwide. According to the VisionWatch data, the US saw approximately 111 million routine eye exams and 60 million medical eye exams in 2020. DIAGNOS, along with its partners, can address this growing market.” DIAGNOS recently opened its US office in south Florida to support its prospects and clients.

    About DIAGNOS
    DIAGNOS is a publicly traded Canadian corporation dedicated to early detection of critical eye-related health problems. By leveraging Artificial Intelligence, DIAGNOS aims to provide more information to healthcare clinicians to enhance diagnostic accuracy, streamline workflows, and improve patient outcomes on a global scale.

    Additional information is available at www.diagnos.com and www.sedarplus.com.

    This news release contains forward-looking information. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in these statements. DIAGNOS disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

    Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: IQ121 Launches Advanced Legacy Building App, Digitally Safeguarding Vital Documents and Preserving Cherished Memories

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A loved one’s passing brings both emotional pain and the heavy weight of complex legal and administrative tasks, leaving families with more to manage than just grief during their time of loss. Today, IQ121 announces the launch of its new legacy building platform, allowing users to safely organise, store and share their most important digital assets. This helps family members and business partners easily navigate paperwork, access important records and feel connected to their loved ones through the memory, photo and video-sharing capability.

    IQ121 stores essential items, including:

    • Legal documents (powers of attorney, trusts, vehicle documentation)
    • Finances (bank account details, investments, pension documentation)
    • Insurance policies covering life, property, high value items
    • Property deeds of title, jewelry collections, any other high value items
    • Health records
    • Passwords, security Q&As and account recovery steps
    • Wills and medical directives
    • Videos and photos
    • Memories and personal documents (family birth certificates, marriage certificates)

    The idea for IQ121 was generated by Hollywood actor Kunal Nayyar, best known for his role in “The Big Bang Theory,” during the COVID-19 pandemic. While organising his parents’ trip from India to the U.S., struggling to gather flight numbers, passport details and hotel confirmations, the frustration led him to question: “Why isn’t there an easier way to share this information?” With the pandemic causing many family members to experience sudden, unprecedented loss, the idea progressed into addressing other vital records people accumulate throughout life. Motivated by both a personal loss and a desire to ease others’ suffering, Nayyar created IQ121 to help people prepare for life’s hardest moments.

    “Navigating grief is already unbearable; the last thing families need is to feel confused or unprepared. IQ121 brings comfort, structure and lasting peace of mind during times of unimaginable difficulty,” Nayyar said. “We wanted to create a way to guide anyone facing loss through those times, with humanity and dignity, so they could focus on what truly matters most: honouring loved ones and coping with grief. IQ121 empowers people to take control of their legacy, because everyone’s story deserves to be honoured, shared and remembered.”

    IQ121 is not just for seniors; people of all ages can become members to store and protect their digital records accumulated over time. Plans will automatically pass down through trusted successors, ensuring a family’s legacy lives on.

    “IQ121 goes beyond file storage. It is a place to preserve what makes a person’s life meaningful,” said Tim Ashley Sparks, spokesperson for IQ121. “Members can create video messages for future birthdays or tell a story to a grandchild. The app is designed not just for estate planning, but for fostering connection and ensuring memories live on.”

    Backed by military-grade AES-256 encryption — the same technology trusted by banks and governments — IQ121 is a secure end-of-life planning app. It also offers a flexible subscription model to fit every member’s particular goals, allowing for added storage as needed.

    Available on iOS and Android, IQ121 is the only end-of-life planning app that supports six major languages (English, Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian), making it globally accessible for multilingual users.

    A media kit of photos, videos, logos and headshots is available here. To learn more, visit www.iq121.com.

    About IQ121
    IQ121 (pronounced IQ One-Two-One) is a first-of-its-kind comprehensive digital platform designed to help individuals, families and professionals organise, manage and safely store essential life documents and digital assets. With the growing need for secure and easily accessible digital solutions, IQ121 offers an encryption-backed, all-in-one platform that simplifies estate planning, digital asset management and legacy preservation.

    Media Contact
    Julia Cappiello
    Uproar by Moburst for IQ121
    julia.cappiello@moburst.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Millburn Academy receives positive Education Scotland inspection report

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    The Highland Council welcomes the positive Education Scotland report following an inspection visit to Millburn Academy, Inverness.

    Following the inspection, Millburn Academy received the following quality indicators:

    • Leadership of change – Good
    • Learning, teaching and assessment – Good
    • Ensuring wellbeing, equality and inclusion – Good
    • Raising attainment and achievement – Good

    Education Committee Chair, Cllr John Finlayson said: “The recent inspection at Millburn Academy from Education Scotland received a very positive report, reflecting the professionalism, dedication and commitment of the caring staff at the setting to create an inclusive, safe and nurturing ethos for all pupils attending.

    “The report found significant strengths in aspects of the staff and young peoples’ positive relationships. This is a strength of the school and impacts positively on the experiences of young people. Staff have worked very effectively to ensure a safe and respectful climate for learning, with supportive and highly skilled leadership that enable the school to deliver high quality education supported to meet pupils’ individual needs.  

    “I’d like to congratulate the staff at Millburn Academy for their continued dedication and very good inspection report.”

    Key messages from the report:

    • The headteacher’s strategic well focussed leadership. She is guiding the school community through change sensitively and effectively.
    • Staff are working together very well to drive developments in learning and teaching, which is improving classroom experiences for learners. Young people are benefiting from classroom routines and learning in positive, welcoming learning environments.
    • The wide variety of rich achievements. Young people appreciate the range of ways in which they can demonstrate important skills and knowledge and are now able to celebrate and record these regularly. 
    • Young people are enthusiastic about the motivating range of experiences that enhance their learning of Gaelic. This is resulting in young people achieving strong outcomes in Gaelic.
    • Ensure that Gaelic is integrated into the school’s strategic planning leading to year-on-year improvements and the possibility of an increasing number of Gaelic speakers.

    4 Jun 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Premiere of the film “Impostors”. Life against the backdrop of historical events and a dialogue with Pushkin

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    A pre-premiere screening of Maria Reizen’s film “Impostors” took place. The action takes place in October 1993: against the backdrop of historical events, two lovers try to understand the circumstances of the death of a famous director and save his last film.

    Producer Georgiy Lordkipanidze said: “We must remember that we live in a history textbook. It does not end, and God willing, it will not end for a long, long time. It is fascinating and pleasant in its own way. This knowledge makes life much easier when you understand that you live in history, and it continues. This is its lesson – what happened once in one form or another will definitely happen again, will happen again.”

    The film “Impostors” is a very transparent statement on this topic. It is about people who find themselves on yet another broken-off ice floe among moving tectonic plates. The relationship of oneself to events, proportion – it seems that this is what the film screams about, if the entry point into it is the story of the main character. And the understanding that everything is repeating itself, and people have not drawn global conclusions, does not save the viewer from his own drama.

    The authors rethink Pushkin’s “Boris Godunov” through the “Time of Troubles” – the autumn of 1993. It seems to be the first artistic attempt to live through that period. 30 years is a sufficient period for a film to become historical. With every detail verified, the film is more of a discourse, a metaphor and a philosophical statement. Godunov runs through the film like a dotted line, but such that the main action is perceived precisely through him – as a foundation on which everything is strung.

    Pushkin the philosopher

    Alexander Sergeyevich wrote Boris Godunov 200 years ago, and it was, as the creators of the film rightly note, the first realistic historical drama filled with psychologism, the author of which violates all the laws that prevailed not only in Russian but also in world dramaturgy – the unity of place, time and action, the unity of genre and style of speech, the subordination of the plot to a love affair.

    At that moment, Pushkin becomes a historian and political thinker, gives a philosophical definition of the fate of Russia. And perhaps such a film seems to give the viewer a new Pushkin, which significantly expands the boundaries of the film itself. This intersection with many worlds at once: literature, philosophy, history, is the beginning of a big conversation, which, of course, goes on continuously, but the film brings it to a wider audience. An interesting phenomenon is how cinema becomes a starting point for a big discourse and how, going beyond itself, it can lay claim to eternity.

    “It seems to me that the form of this film allows us to hope that it will be seen not only by those who watch it in the coming weeks of distribution or later, when it goes on television platforms. This is a film that you can discover for yourself after some time,” explains Georgy Lordkipanidze. As in Pushkin’s “Boris Godunov”, the plot of “The Impostors” centers on ordinary people. The complicated, year-long relationship of the main characters is a real love drama. They find themselves drawn into a detective story, which is intensified by the events that take place. The turmoil of autumn 1993 erases everything that was, becomes stronger for each of them, but gives life new meaning. This is a personal tragedy and a tragedy for the country.

    Multi-layered and precise in every detail

    “The Impostors” is a multi-layered film. The viewer can be on one level, or can try to exist on all of them at once, which is certainly better because it provides a deeper immersion. But still, this is a film for everyone – and it is exactly what the person watching it is: well-read, living his own drama, searching or tired.

    The film contains many metaphors. The theme of the holy fool refers, for example, to the very essence of foolishness in Rus’, and to films, and to parables. The creators of “The Impostors” ask themselves and the viewer precisely calibrated questions, but great art always implies that the answers must be sought independently.

    This carefully assembled picture from the autumn of 1993 is the perfect work of production designer Evgeny Mitta, who accurately recreated the spirit of that time. “In general, this is already considered a historical film by cinematic standards. Quite a lot of time has passed, all this equipment no longer exists in the current media space. And we had to search quite well for some individual parts of the equipment and try to recreate it all,” says Evgeny Mitta.

    But it all started with a script written by Sergei Shumakov, the general director and editor-in-chief of the Kultura channel. That is why the story through the eyes of journalists looks as plausible as possible. Sergei Shumakov, in essence, showed the work of those he understands best, especially since he himself worked in television in 1993 and was in the television center building on the night of October 3-4.

    “I think the experience of documentary filmmaking helps, because the chronicle was the most difficult thing we did. The entire process of finishing the film took three years, but the chronicle took one and a half of that. Plus, during the preparation process, we worked on the chronicle, because there were documentary filmmakers who were separately from me preparing it for the set. In order to watch it before the motor, the group watched the chronicle – everyone remembered what happened. Some did not remember, but saw it for the first time – those who were younger. In general, the chronicle was probably the most difficult,” says Maria Reizen.

    Reincarnations

    The cast of “The Pretenders” is so impressive that it’s worth watching the movie just for them: Linda Lapinsh, Sergey Shakurov, Egor Beroev, Vladimir Guskov, Anna Mikhalkova, Mikhail Filippov, Aleksandr Adabashyan and others. It’s especially nice to see Ildar Gainutdinov, who plays the role of False Dmitry.

    “As for the role, my hero, it was very multi-staged. If we specifically proceed not from the excerpt, if, let’s say, we take on a full-fledged character, then we could take, for example, a story – how a person is changed by his desire for power, how his dream becomes some kind of nightmare. That is, this is a very, very complex work,” notes Ildar Gainutdinov.

    “The Pretenders” is a film that goes beyond itself. It is a serious attempt to understand the autumn of 1993, a large open dialogue with Alexander Pushkin, a history of stories, a film with a very precise inner time and brilliant work of the entire team. A magnificently depicted life of ordinary people who found themselves in the center of a historical breakdown.

    The film will be released on June 5th and can be seen in the Moskino chain of cinemas.

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

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

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/154812073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 3 June 2025 Statement One year in detention: heads of United Nations agencies and INGOs renew demand for release of staff detained in northern Yemen

    Source: World Health Organisation

    This week marks one year since dozens of personnel from the United Nations, nongovernmental and civil society organizations, and diplomatic missions were arbitrarily detained by the Houthi de facto authorities in northern Yemen. Others have been detained since as far back as 2021. Today, we reiterate our urgent demand for their immediate and unconditional release.

    As of today, 23 UN and five international nongovernmental organizations (INGOs) personnel remain arbitrarily detained. Tragically, one UN staff member and another from Save the Children have died in detention. Others have lost loved ones while being held, denied the chance to attend their funerals or say goodbye.   Our arbitrarily detained colleagues have spent at least 365 days – and for some, over 1000 days – isolated from their families, children, husbands, and wives, in flagrant breach of international law. The toll of this detention is also weighing heavily on their families, who continue to endure the unbearable pain of absence and uncertainty as they face another Eid without their loved one.

    Nothing can justify their ordeal. They were doing their jobs, helping people in desperate need: people without food, shelter, or adequate health care.

    Yemen remains one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with over 19 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, many of whom rely on it for survival. A safe and enabling operating environment for humanitarian operations, including the release of detained personnel, is essential to maintaining and restoring assistance to those in need. Humanitarian workers should never be targeted or detained while carrying out their mandates to serve the people of Yemen.

    The prolonged detention of our colleagues has a chilling effect across the international community, undermining support for Yemen and hindering humanitarian response. It has also undermined mediation efforts for lasting peace.

    We acknowledge the release of one UN and two NGO personnel and the recent release of an Embassy staff member. We call on the de facto authorities to deliver on their previous commitments, including those made to the Director-General of the World Health Organization during his mission to Sana’a in December 2024.

    The UN and INGOs will continue to work through all possible channels to secure the safe and immediate release of those arbitrarily detained.

    Signatories:

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SITI visits Changchun (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, yesterday (June 3) began his visit to Changchun, Jilin Province, to tour the China FAW Group Corporation (FAW Group) and learn about the development of the advanced manufacturing industry there.

         Upon arriving in Changchun yesterday afternoon, Professor Sun held an engagement session with the management of the FAW Group. He was briefed on the Group’s developments, especially in enhancing innovation capabilities and research on core technology when promoting the development of its own brands.

         Professor Sun visited the China FAW NBD Headquarters research and development institute, prosperity factory and Cultural Exhibition Hall today (June 4) to study the Group’s technological breakthroughs of its Hongqi brand in the areas of new energy vehicle models, advanced manufacturing technologies and processes, and autonomous driving systems as well as learning about the innovative achievements of the FAW Group as a state-owned mega automobile enterprise and a leading corporation of China’s automobile industry.

         Professor Sun said, “The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has clearly stated in the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint that the development of advanced manufacturing and new energy is one of the strategic technology industries, and is actively promoting new industrialisation in Hong Kong. Under the ‘one country, two systems’ principle, Hong Kong has the unique advantages of enjoying the strong support of the country and being closely connected to the world. It is a two-way gateway for attracting overseas enterprises to Hong Kong and helping Mainland enterprises go global, as well as an ideal platform for Mainland enterprises to venture overseas markets.” He said he looked forward to Hong Kong’s new contributions to the innovative development of the country’s new energy automobile industry chain.

         Professor Sun also noted that the 2025 International Automotive Supply Chain Expo (Hong Kong) will be held from June 12 to 15 at AsiaWorld-Expo, Hong Kong. The Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau, as the advising organisation, hopes that Hong Kong can serve as an exchange platform for the global automobile industry supply chain via the Expo, and that new industrialisation in Hong Kong can be promoted at the same time, while showcasing cutting-edge technologies and the latest achievements of the new energy automobile industry of the Mainland.

         The Commissioner for Industry (Innovation and Technology), Dr Ge Ming, also joined the visit.

         Professor Sun returned to Hong Kong this afternoon after the visit.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: Form 8.3 – [CRANEWARE PLC – 03 06 2025] – (CGWL)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORM 8.3

    PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY
    A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE
    Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the “Code”)

    1.        KEY INFORMATION

    (a)   Full name of discloser: CANACCORD GENUITY WEALTH LIMITED (for Discretionary clients)
    (b)   Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a):
            The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.    		 N/A
    (c)   Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:
            Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree    		 CRANEWARE PLC
    (d)   If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree: N/A
    (e)   Date position held/dealing undertaken:
            For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure    		 03 JUNE 2025
    (f)   In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer?
            If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”    		 N/A

    2.        POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

    If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security.

    (a)      Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any)

    Class of relevant security: 1p ORDINARY
      Interests Short positions
    Number % Number %
    (1)   Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 1,698,962 4.7980    
    (2)   Cash-settled derivatives:        
    (3)   Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:        
    TOTAL: 1,698,962 4.7980    

    NOTE: On 03/06/2025, 800 shares were transferred out by a discretionary client.

    All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

    Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions).

    (b)      Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors’ and other employee options)

    Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists:  
    Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages:  

    3.        DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

    Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.

    The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.

    (a)        Purchases and sales

    Class of relevant security Purchase/sale Number of securities Price per unit
    1p ORDINARY SALE 356 2130p

    (b)        Cash-settled derivative transactions

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. CFD    		 Nature of dealing
    e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position    		 Number of reference securities Price per unit
    NONE        

    (c)        Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options)

    (i)        Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type
    e.g. American, European etc.    		 Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit
    NONE              

    (ii)        Exercise

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. call option    		 Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit

    (d)        Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)

    Class of relevant security Nature of dealing
    e.g. subscription, conversion    		 Details Price per unit (if applicable)
    NONE      

    4.        OTHER INFORMATION

    (a)        Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

    Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer:
    Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”

    NONE

    (b)        Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives

    Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to:
    (i)   the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or
    (ii)   the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced:
    If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”

    NONE

    (c)        Attachments

    Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO
    Date of disclosure: 04 JUNE 2025
    Contact name: PHIL HULME
    Telephone number: 01253 376551

    Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service.

    The Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code’s disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.

    The Code can be viewed on the Panel’s website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Form 8.3 – [GLOBALDATA PLC – 03 06 2025] – (CGWL)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORM 8.3

    PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY
    A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE
    Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the “Code”)

    1.        KEY INFORMATION

    (a)   Full name of discloser: CANACCORD GENUITY WEALTH LIMITED (for Discretionary clients)
    (b)   Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a):
            The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.    		 N/A
    (c)   Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:
            Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree    		 GLOBALDATA PLC
    (d)   If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree: N/A
    (e)   Date position held/dealing undertaken:
            For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure    		 03 JUNE 2025
    (f)   In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer?
            If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”    		 N/A

    2.        POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

    If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security.

    (a)      Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any)

    Class of relevant security: 0.01p ORDINARY
      Interests Short positions
    Number % Number %
    (1)   Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 10,937,314 1.3561    
    (2)   Cash-settled derivatives:        
    (3)   Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:        
    TOTAL: 10,937,314 1.3561    

    NOTE: On 03/06/2025, 4220 shares were transferred out by a discretionary client.

    All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

    Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions).

    (b)      Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors’ and other employee options)

    Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists:  
    Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages:  

    3.        DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

    Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.

    The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.

    (a)        Purchases and sales

    Class of relevant security Purchase/sale Number of securities Price per unit
    0.01p ORDINARY SALE 694 175.18p
    0.01p ORDINARY SALE 10,300 174.72p

    (b)        Cash-settled derivative transactions

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. CFD    		 Nature of dealing
    e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position    		 Number of reference securities Price per unit
    NONE        

    (c)        Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options)

    (i)        Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type
    e.g. American, European etc.    		 Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit
    NONE              

    (ii)        Exercise

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. call option    		 Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit

    (d)        Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)

    Class of relevant security Nature of dealing
    e.g. subscription, conversion    		 Details Price per unit (if applicable)
    NONE      

    4.        OTHER INFORMATION

    (a)        Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

    Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer:
    Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”

    NONE

    (b)        Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives

    Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to:
    (i)   the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or
    (ii)   the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced:
    If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”

    NONE

    (c)        Attachments

    Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO
    Date of disclosure: 04 JUNE 2025
    Contact name: PHIL HULME
    Telephone number: 01253 376551

    Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service.

    The Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code’s disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.

    The Code can be viewed on the Panel’s website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: BEN, University of KwaZulu-Natal, and Valio Launch AI Mental Health Program to Support Underserved Students in South Africa

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WILMINGTON, Del., June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Mental health is an urgent concern for students across South Africa, especially in underserved communities with limited access to care.

    To help close this gap, the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), Valio Technologies, and Brand Engagement Network Inc. (BEN) (NASDAQ: BNAI) are launching an inclusive, AI-powered mental health program that offers private, 24/7 support.

    The initiative starts with UKZN students and will help shape how mental health support is expanded across the region.

    “AI is now playing a vital role in improving access to mental health support,” said Paul Chang, CEO of Brand Engagement Network. “This collaboration shows how our iSKYE platform delivers meaningful help in areas where traditional care is out of reach.”

    BEN’s AI-powered platform offers personalized mental health support, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
    It enables ongoing check-ins, emotional support, and curated mental health resources, especially for individuals without access to traditional therapy.

    The solution is designed to scale across diverse populations, particularly in remote or under-resourced communities.

    Unlike scripted bots, BEN’s AI adapts to each individual, offering emotionally aware conversations, personalized guidance, and anonymized insights that help institutions better target support while maintaining full privacy protections.

    “We are honoured to work with the University of KwaZulu-Natal on this mission-driven initiative,” said Lefentse Nokaneng, CEO and Founder of Valio Technologies. “Together, we’re redefining how institutions support mental wellness at scale—using AI to build trust and access.”

    The co-development effort is already underway, with a launch at UKZN planned for later this year.

    Insights from this rollout will help shape future expansions, ensuring the program stays responsive to students and communities across the region.

    About Brand Engagement Network (BEN)
    Brand Engagement Network Inc. (NASDAQ: BNAI) innovates in AI-powered customer engagement, delivering safe, intelligent, and scalable solutions. Its proprietary Engagement Language Model (ELM™) and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) architecture enable highly personalized interactions supported by customers’ curated data in closed-loop environments. BEN develops AI-driven engagement solutions for the life sciences, automotive, and retail industries, featuring AI-powered avatars for outbound campaigns, inbound customer service, and real-time recommendations. With a global AI research and development team, BEN provides secure cloud-based or on-premises deployments, granting complete control of the technology stack and ensuring compliance with GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA, and SOC 2 Type 1 standards. The company holds 21 patents, with 28 pending, demonstrating its commitment to advancing AI-driven consumer engagement. For more information, visit www.beninc.ai.

    About Valio Technologies
    Valio (Technologies Pty Ltd) is a Pan-African technology company specializing in the development of disruptive enterprise blockchain, Robotic Process Automation (RPA), and Artificial Intelligence solutions tailored for developing markets. With a strategic focus on key sectors such as healthcare, automotive, mining, and supply chain management, our mission is to lead Africa into the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Valio is dedicated to transforming these sectors by harnessing innovation to foster sustainable development and economic growth across the continent. For more information, visit www.valiotechnologies.com.

    About the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN)
    The University of KwaZulu-Natal is a leading research and teaching institution in South Africa, committed to academic excellence and community engagement. With campuses across the province of KwaZulu-Natal, UKZN focuses on advancing inclusive development and sustainable well-being through innovation, education, and partnership. For more information, visit www.ukzn.ac.za.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    Certain statements in this communication are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of federal securities laws. They are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements reflect, among other things, BEN’s current expectations, assumptions, plans, strategies, and anticipated results. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks, and changes in circumstances that may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements, which are neither statements of historical fact nor guarantees or assurances of future performance.

    There are a number of risks, uncertainties and conditions that may cause BEN’s actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the risk factors described in Part I, Item 1A of Risk Factors in BEN’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and the other risk factors identified from time to time in the BEN’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Filings with the SEC are available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

    Many of these circumstances are beyond BEN’s ability to control or predict. These forward-looking statements necessarily involve assumptions on BEN’s part. These forward-looking statements may include words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “project,” “should,” “may,” “will,” “might,” “could,” “would,” or similar expressions. All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on BEN’s behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements that appear throughout this communication. Furthermore, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements, which are based on the information currently available to the Company and speak only as of the date they are made. BEN disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements.

    Media Contact 
    Amy Rouyer
    P: 503-367-7596
    E: amy@beninc.ai

    Investor Relations
    Susan Xu
    P: 778-323-0959
    E: sxu@allianceadvisors.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Helping bring phage medicines to UK patients – guidance for industry

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Helping bring phage medicines to UK patients – guidance for industry

    Bacteriophages – viruses that selectively fight bacteria – may offer new hope in fighting infections and tackling antimicrobial resistance.

    Bacteriophages attaching to bacterium.

    The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has today (4 June) published the UK’s first official guidance to support the safe development and use of phage therapies – treatments that use viruses to target and destroy harmful bacteria.

    The guidance aims to help researchers and companies develop phage-based medicines that meet UK safety, quality and efficacy standards, so they can be made available to patients who need them most.

    It covers both combined phage products designed for common infections and circulating strains, as well as personalised phage therapies that are tailored for individual patients with rare or highly resistant infections.

    For patients, this could mean access to phage treatment when standard-of care-antibiotics fail or cannot be given, for example due to allergies. While some patients in the UK have already received phage therapy under compassionate use – with phages imported from abroad – there are currently no licensed phage medicines on the UK market.

    Lawrence Tallon, MHRA Chief Executive, said:

    “Some infections are becoming harder to treat when antibiotics are ineffective against them – and patients urgently need new options.

    “Phage therapy is one of several promising approaches. This guidance brings together relevant standards to provide clarity for researchers and companies, so they can develop these treatments safely and bring them to the people who need them.

    “We’re committed to working with industry to support innovation in this space – without compromising on the robust safety and quality standards that patients rightly expect.

    “It’s part of our wider mission to support innovation and make the UK a world leader in life sciences.”

    Phage therapies use bacterial viruses – called bacteriophages – that attack specific bacteria without harming human cells. They have received increased interest in recent years as a potential way to treat antibiotic-resistant infections, with over 60,000 serious antibiotic-resistant infections estimated annually in the UK and growing.

    The MHRA’s publication sets out how existing UK and international regulatory frameworks apply to phage treatments – from early research through to use in patients. It provides clear, practical advice on what’s needed at each stage of development – whether the goal is a fully licensed product or a treatment used under a clinician’s responsibility for an individual case.

    Further detail in the guidance includes: – What evidence is needed to support clinical trials and market authorisation – How to meet standards on quality, safety and manufacturing, including the application of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) – How personalised treatments can be developed and supplied – When and how unlicensed phage treatments can be used for individual patients

    The 28-page document brings together UK and international regulatory standards in one place, helping innovators clearly understand what’s required – and avoid unnecessary delays.

    Julian Beach, MHRA Interim Executive Director of Healthcare Quality and Access, said:

    “Developers have told us they need clarity on how phage therapies fit into the UK’s regulatory system. This helps signpost relevant requirements, providing that clarity. We continue to support innovation by working closely with industry and researchers while making sure patients are protected every step of the way.”

    The publication supports the UK’s antimicrobial resistance (AMR) strategy and the MHRA’s wider role in enabling innovative, science-led regulation that meets public health need while maintaining high standards for quality and safety.

    Dr Colin Brown, deputy director at the UK Health Security Agency, responsible for AMR, said:

    “MHRA’s new guidance helps lay the foundations for phage therapy opportunities in the UK. It provides much-needed direction for scientists and researchers working to make this treatment a reality for patients.

    “Phage therapy truly has the potential to transform the way we treat bacterial infections, especially as resistance to antibiotics grows. At UKHSA, we’re developing new ways to help increase phage therapy use and research, including a bacteriophage collection where scientists can both access and deposit phages. In time, we hope solutions like phage therapy can become a first-line treatment option.”

    The MHRA developed the guidance with input from the Phage Innovation Network, a cross-sector group supported by Innovate UK, and from industry, clinicians and academic researchers.

    Frederique Vieville, BEAM Alliance Phage ACT Lead, a European group supporting antimicrobial therapy development, and 5QBD-Biotech Chief Executive, a biotech company focused on bacteriophage therapies, said:

    “As difficult-to-treat infections continue to rise, phage therapy is becoming an important complement to existing treatments. Recent steps have been taken by European regulators to outline the regulatory framework for phage-based medicinal products, but developers still need support to navigate it effectively. Clarity about the pathway – tailored to the unique characteristics of phages – is vital to help meet quality, non-clinical, and clinical requirements, and ultimately bring phage-based treatments to patients more efficiently.”

    Dr Jason Clark, NexaBiome Director and Chief Scientific Officer, a company developing commercial phage therapies in the UK, said:

    “There is an urgent and increasing need for new ways to treat antimicrobial resistant infections, with bacteriophage being at the forefront of recent developments. This new guidance from the MHRA is incredibly forward-thinking and puts the UK in pole position to fully realise the healthcare and commercial benefits of this exiting technology.

    “As a Company developing bacteriophage products for human use, this guidance helps us to decrease perceived risks and gives clarity to the regulatory landscape, ultimately enabling us to more readily bring investment into the UK.”

    Companies interested in developing bacteriophage treatments can access scientific advice from the MHRA at any stage of development.

    Notes to editors

    • For more information, access Regulatory considerations for therapeutic use of bacteriophages in the UK on the MHRA website.
    • Bacteriophages are naturally occurring viruses that infect specific bacteria. Unlike antibiotics, which can harm helpful bacteria too, phages typically target only one species or strain of bacteria. They work by attaching to the bacteria, injecting their genetic material, and destroying it. In medicine, phages can be tailored to attack the bacteria causing an infection, with less impact on the body’s healthy bacteria.
    • Antibiotic resistant infections continue to rise – GOV.UK
    • The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for regulating all medicines and medical devices in the UK by ensuring they work and are acceptably safe. All our work is underpinned by robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that the benefits justify any risks.
    • The MHRA is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care.
    • For media enquiries, please contact the newscentre@mhra.gov.uk, or call on 020 3080 7651.

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New Red Route installation incoming

    Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent

    Published: Wednesday, 4th June 2025

    Installation work will start on a new red route in the city early next month.

    Installation work will start on a new red route in the city early next month.

    The red route will be installed on Broad Street, Hanley between Potteries Way and Victoria Square from Monday, June 9.

    The work will take three days to complete and will include the removal of double yellow lines and the installation of new signage, double red markings and cameras.

    The installation follows a public consultation in 2024 which outlined the proposed restrictions on the corridor, in relation to concerns about illegal parking in the area. The aim of the scheme is to help with traffic flow across the city, support the economy, improve air quality, address road safety concerns.

    Councillor Finlay Gordon-McCusker, cabinet member for transport, regeneration and infrastructure at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “Day after day, drivers have been ignoring the double yellow lines here, causing disruption and putting pedestrians at risk. 
     

    “Our enforcement teams have been out to the location multiple times a day, but enough is enough.
     

    “This red route will put some order back on our streets and make it clear that parking restrictions aren’t optional. They’re there for the safety of all road users, and often, to ensure traffic—especially buses—can flow freely.
     

    “If you park where you shouldn’t, there will be consequences.”
     

    City Council parking officers have visited this particular site 1,333 times in the last 12 months to tackle incessant parking issues.

    The Red Route penalty is £70, discounted to £35 if paid within 14 days.
     

    The project is funded by the city council’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) and forms part of the wider network of strategic red routes being introduced across the city to help make bus journey times more reliable.
     

    While the work is being carried out, disruption will be kept to a minimum.

    Works will be carried out between 9am and 3.30pm each day. The red route will be enforceable from Monday 16 June.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Greater Oxford: One council. Local decisions. A better place to live.

    Source: City of Oxford

    A Greater Oxford Council would bring decisions closer to the people they affect and enable improved services, more affordable homes, better transport connections, protected green spaces, and new, secure jobs. 

    The government has asked councils across England for proposals on simplifying the structure of local government in their regions. 

    In March, Oxford City Council put forward outline proposals that would see Oxfordshire’s six councils abolished and replaced with three new councils: 

    • Greater Oxford Council – covering Oxford and its Green Belt 
    • Northern Oxfordshire Council – covering most of the existing Cherwell and West Oxfordshire districts 
    • Ridgeway Council – covering most of the existing South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse districts combined with existing West Berkshire unitary (based on the proposals being developed by those councils, but with those villages within the Green Belt closest to the city becoming part of Greater Oxford) 

    All three councils would have natural geographic and demographic connections, local accountability to residents, and would be viable under the government’s plans. 

    Today, Oxford City Council has announced new details of its proposals, including a new boundary map for Oxfordshire, ahead of public engagement on the plans in June and July. 

    The last time local government was reorganised in Oxfordshire was in 1974. 

    For more information about the Greater Oxford proposals, visit greateroxford.org. 

    Greater Oxford boundaries 

    A Greater Oxford Council would cover Oxford and the communities within its Green Belt that are naturally linked to the city by work, transport and leisure. 

    View an interactive map showing the proposed Greater Oxford Council and the Green Belt. 

    Greater Oxford would cover a region with a population of about 240,000 people today, rising to about 345,000 by 2040. 

    The Greater Oxford boundary closely follows the line of Oxford’s Green Belt. 

    Currently, almost all of Oxford’s Green Belt – which was created in 1975 – sits outside the city’s administrative boundaries. 

    The Greater Oxford proposals would give local residents control of the Green Belt for the first time. 

    The government has been clear that some of the ‘Grey Belt’ – defined as “poor quality” areas of the Green Belt – in England should be developed to help deliver 1.5 million new homes over the next five years. 

    This will be a big change for Oxfordshire. 

    Rather than incrementally building around every town and village across the county, as is currently the case, Greater Oxford can ensure that high-quality, suitably dense and sustainable developments are built near to existing jobs and community facilities, with good public transport. 

    Benefits to Greater Oxford 

    New homes 

    Oxford is one of the least affordable places to live in the country. Average house prices are 13 times average salaries, and 3,500 households are on the waiting list for council homes. It’s little different in the villages around the city, where house prices are linked to the Oxford housing market and 100s of households also wait for affordable social housing. 

    The city’s current administrative boundaries are tightly drawn around existing homes and businesses, meaning there is little space to deliver the number of homes needed. 

    Greater Oxford would enable genuinely affordable homes, including new council homes, to be built at appropriate densities near to existing jobs and community facilities that have good public transport. 

    It would also mean that Oxford could tackle the housing crisis without the need to build homes in neighboring authorities, giving the Northern Oxfordshire and Ridgeway councils full control of their own housing needs. 

    The proposals would see over 40,000 new homes built within Greater Oxford by 2040. 

    If the new council follows Oxford City Council’s current planning policies, 40% of these new homes – over 16,000 homes – would be required to be new council homes. 

    Economic growth 

    Oxford has one of the fastest growing and most successful local economies in the UK.  

    Oxford is a net contributor to the UK’s economy – generating £7.6bn annually – has been ranked on of country’s top performing cities by PwC, including attraction of overseas investment, for many years. 

    The city has huge unmet demand for labs, innovation space, offices and hotels, but the current administrative boundaries – which are tightly drawn around existing homes and businesses – means Oxford’s economy is being artificially restricted. 

    The Greater Oxford proposals would see the creation of 5.9m–9.6m sq ft of research and development space and 2.1m–3.2m sq ft of other commercial space. This would create between 17,900 and 29,100 new jobs in Greater Oxford, which would generate up to £2bn a year for the UK’s economy. 

    The Greater Oxford proposals would also bring decision-making on apprenticeships and skills training back to the local level. The new council would look to increase apprenticeship and training opportunities in Greater Oxford, so local people have a proper share in the area’s growing success. 

    Transport 

    The transport system in the Greater Oxford region is in crisis.  

    There is chronic congestion in and around Oxford, which is impacting the financial sustainability of the city’s bus companies. 

    Greater Oxford would give local residents full control over Oxford’s transport for the first time in 50 years. The transport network has been run by Oxfordshire County Council since 1974. 

    The proposals would provide additional bus services to villages around the city by extending existing routes. 

    Having one council for Greater Oxford would also mean planning and transport could be properly integrated. Currently, the services are run by separate councils. 

    Environment  

    The Thames and Cherwell rivers and their tributaries flow through the heart of Greater Oxford, surrounded by vast green spaces and natural beauty. It is key that we protect and enhance these spaces. 

    The creation of a Greater Oxford Council would strengthen the control that Oxford and the main population centres around it have over the Green Belt. We would work to strengthen protection for valuable green spaces, proposals that would help wildlife to flourish, enhance biodiversity, improve the quality of our air and water, and help mitigate the impacts of climate change.  This will build on the successes of the Zero Carbon Oxford Partnership, recently expanded to Oxfordshire, which came out of the pioneering Citizen’s Assembly on Climate Change. 

    Our proposal would see the creation of a more resilient, more connected, network of nature and wildlife corridors, as well as continued support of the vital conservation and nature recovery initiatives – such as those in the Bernwood-Otmoor-Ray area at Bernwood Forest, the River Ray, and the Otmoor Basin.  

    It would also facilitate wider ecosystem benefits, including flood regulation, nature recovery and carbon storage, which are essential in protecting our homes and environment from the increasing impacts of climate change. 

    Green spaces are also just as important as urban spaces in fostering healthy communities and improving well-being. The Greater Oxford proposals would also give residents improved access to nature and the landscapes of our region, ensuring they can be enjoyed by everyone. 

    Communities 

    At the moment, only city residents can take advantage of Oxford City Council’s community services offer, which includes: 

    • Free swimming for under 17s in Oxford’s swimming pools – Barton Leisure Centre, Ferry Leisure Centre, Leys Pools and Leisure Centre, and Hinksey Outdoor Pool 

    • Free youth clubs and activities, including summer holiday activities, as part of the Oxford Youth Ambition programme 

    • Heavily discounted leisure centre membership for people on qualifying benefits, including those on carer’s allowance, foster carers and those on disability allowance 

    Under the proposals, all Greater Oxford residents – including residents of Berinsfield, Botley, Kennington, Kidlington and Wheatley – will be able to take advantage of the offer. 

    The aim would also be to extend the offer to Abbey Sports Centre in Berinsfield, Kidlington and Gosford Leisure Centre, and Park Sports Centre in Wheatley. 

    Next steps 

    Oxford City Council will carry out public engagement on its Greater Oxford proposals in June-July, including public events in Berinsfield, Botley, Kennington, Kidlington and Wheatley. 

    Following the public engagement, Oxford City Council will draw up its final Greater Oxford proposals, which will be submitted to the Government in November. 

    The final decision on local government reorganisation across England, including in Oxford and Oxfordshire, will be made by the Government in 2026. 

    New councils are expected to be created in 2028. 

    Oxford City Council carried out an initial survey on its proposals in February, which found 82% think the current two-tier local government arrangements could be improved, and 67% think councils should not be too large, so they can better meet the needs of local residents. 

    Comment 

    “Oxford’s council services are currently split between Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council. This is confusing for residents and means decisions affecting the Greater Oxford area can be made by councillors from Chipping Norton or Henley. 

    “Greater Oxford will bring local decisions under one roof and closer to the people they affect – helping us build more affordable homes, provide new bus connections, protect green spaces and enhance biodiversity, and create new, secure jobs for our children and grandchildren. 

    “Our proposals will bring better services and help make Greater Oxford a fairer place to live, work and visit.” 

    Councillor Susan Brown, Leader of Oxford City Council 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Council Leader welcomes major Government transport funding announcement

    Source: City of Manchester

    Council Leader Bev Craig reacts to news today that the Greater Manchester region will receive £2.5bn in new funding to create the UK’s first fully integrated, zero-emission public transport network.

    The funding will also unlock proposals for a new Metrolink stop at Sandhills in Collyhurst that will support ongoing investment in the community and drive future phases of regeneration in the north Manchester neighbourhood.  

    Cllr Craig said:  

    “Today’s £2.5bn zero-emissions transport funding announcement is transformative news for Manchester and the city region. Manchester has campaigned for many years to see investment in our transport system. In a settlement that was better than we predicted and will make a real difference right across the city.

    “We have already seen the success of bringing the buses under public control and this will be a much-needed boost to improve capacity for years to come.  

    “This investment will also help create new homes and new jobs – and it is a clear show of support from this government towards our sustainable growth agenda. 

    “Crucially for Manchester, this funding will help deliver the brand new Metrolink stop at Sandhills in Collyhurst and unlock the ambitious future phases of regeneration in this community that will see more than 2,500 new homes – including significant Council and social housing – and new shops alongside education and medical facilities.  

    “This is a major driver for the future investment in Collyhurst as part of the once-in-a-generation Victoria North regeneration programme that will deliver more than 15,000 new homes in the next decade across seven neighbourhoods, each connected by quality green space.  

    “But this is only one element of the ambitious plans for North Manchester. We look forward to working closely with this Government in the coming months to realise the wider potential of this part of our city through the North Manchester General Hospital programme, continued investment into our high streets and district centres, and a raft of new home building that puts North Manchester as a priority for our future growth plans.” 

    The first phase of development in Collyhurst is nearly complete, where 274 new homes are under construction, including 130 homes for social rent alongside a new community park.  

    Find out more about the regeneration of Collyhurst 

    Find out more about the Victoria North regeneration programme 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Proposed revision of the national policy statement for ports

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Written statement to Parliament

    Proposed revision of the national policy statement for ports

    Respondents have until 29 July 2025 to submit their views on the draft revised national policy statement for ports.

    Today (4 June 2025), I am laying before Parliament the draft amended national policy statement for ports (NPSP).

    The extant NPSP was designated in 2012. It sets out the need for development of ports in England and at reserved trust ports in Wales, currently Milford Haven. The NPSP provides guidance for applicants in preparing and for the Secretary of State in determining applications for development consent orders (DCOs) for sea port applications.

    The previous government announced a review of the current NPSP in a written ministerial statement in March 2023. In light of our missions and priorities, this government has continued that review and has decided to amend the document.

    Today, I have launched a public consultation on a draft revised NPSP, along with an appraisal of sustainability (AoS) and habitats regulations assessment (HRA). These are subject to a public consultation period of 8 weeks and to Parliamentary scrutiny in parallel. My department is also publishing port freight demand forecasts for the United Kingdom as a whole, to which the draft NPSP refers. The documents are available on GOV.UK.

    I will place copies of the public consultation document, the appraisal of sustainability, and the habitats regulation assessment in the libraries of the House. The public consultation will close on 29 July 2025. The relevant period for parliamentary scrutiny will be from 4 June to 14 November 2025.

    The review of the NPSP is proceeding in parallel with our wider programme of planning reforms, including the Planning and Infrastructure Bill currently before this House, designed to expedite and facilitate decision-making and stimulate growth and green energy transformation.

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Polytechnic students have developed a model for shelf development

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    The Institute of Industrial Management, Economics and Trade of SPbPU together with the international logistics company “Aurora Logistics” held a student case championship. Participants were looking for practical solutions for the formation of an effective transport and logistics model for the development of hydrocarbon deposits on the shelf.

    The championship started in early April, when the teams received tasks from the company. For one and a half months, 25 teams from 14 cities in Russia, Belarus and Uzbekistan prepared solutions to defend them in the final. The event was held in a mixed format: in person, online and remotely.

    The guys worked on effective transport and logistics solutions for the development of offshore hydrocarbon deposits. Difficult climatic conditions, environmental risks and the need to minimize costs dictate the search for breakthrough solutions. The participants presented projects that combine digital technologies, environmental responsibility and economic efficiency.

    For our institute, it is important to organize and hold events together with the economic sector. It is the case championship format that puts participants in a real situation of finding solutions in conditions of time shortage and uncertainty with some data. The key here is the presence of tasks from partner companies and the competitive element, plus online materials and webinars with experts. All this involves students in the process, motivates, and provides practical experience, – noted Vladimir Shchepinin, Director of the Institute of Industrial Management, Economics and Trade.

    The jury included representatives of Aurora Logistics: Deputy General Director for Offshore Project Logistics Alexander Kornalevsky and Head of the HR Department Olga Abramova, as well as Director of the Higher School of Industrial Management Olga Kalinina, Professors Mikhail Afanasyev and Alexander Ilyinsky, Associate Professors Anna Timofeeva, Natalya Alekseeva, Lyudmila Medvedeva and Dmitry Metkin, Senior Lecturer Vyacheslav Melokhin and Assistant Konstantin Sharlai.

    The first place was taken by Elizaveta Dasayeva, Karina Malyukova, Yulia Eroshenko and Maria Vshivkova, representing the G. I. Nosov Magnitogorsk State Technical University.

    Second place was awarded to students of the Higher School of Industrial Management of SPbPU Anastasia Malashchitskaya, Egor Korolev, Denis Krutov and Alexander Khomyakov.

    Third place was shared between two teams. These are students of the Belarusian State Economic University Ekaterina Meshkova, Maria Zakharchuk, Olga Shutova, Ksenia Sarkan. And students of the Higher School of Industrial Management of SPbPU Artur Prokhorov, Diana Svitkova, Alexandra Karkhanova and Nikolai Kazmin.

    The students were awarded winners’ diplomas, certificates, special diplomas for individual nominations and valuable gifts from Aurora Logistics.

    This championship is the result of a strategic partnership between the Higher School of Industrial Management and the company “Aurora Logistics”, fixed in a cooperation agreement. It is extremely important for us that students solve real cases, not abstract problems. This is how our model of practice-oriented education works: through interaction with the industry, we prepare specialists who are ready to immediately get involved in work on complex projects, be it the Arctic or other points of economic growth, – emphasized the director of the Higher School of Industrial Management Olga Kalinina.

    The students immersed themselves in the specifics of developing offshore hydrocarbon deposits and showed themselves to a potential employer. Special thanks to the members of the organizing committee: the head of the HR department of Aurora Logistics Olga Abramova and associate professor of the higher school Anna Timofeeva, – noted the main organizer of the championship, academic director of educational programs in oil and gas management Mikhail Afanasyev.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “Young Architects Are Changing the Face of Moscow” — Hussam Shakuf on New Principles in Organizing the Urban Environment

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Monumentality, modern technologies and movement into the future – this is how British architect and urban designer Hussam Shakuf sees Moscow. He visited the capital in 2021, and when he returned four years later, he did not recognize it at first – and does not hide his delight at the changes.

    Hussam Shakuf visited the 6th Moscow Interior and Design Week, which took place in the Manezh Central Exhibition Hall. There he gave a lecture entitled “Beyond Borders: Creating Inspiring Interiors and Public Spaces”. And in an interview with a correspondent from the mos.ru portal, the architect talked about what he likes about the Russian capital, whether new buildings should be combined with cultural heritage monuments, and what his vision of a smart city is.

    From old to new

    Hussam Shaqouf is best known for the projects he worked on with the renowned British firm Zaha Hadid Architects for 17 years. Among others, he designed an asymmetrical diamond-shaped shell in North Africa and the ellipsoidal headquarters of a major smartphone manufacturer in Shenzhen. Hussam Shaqouf also participated in the design of a business center in the southeast of Moscow, consisting of flat squares stacked on top of each other.

    The specialist highly praised the changes that have taken place in the capital’s architecture in recent years.

    “In Moscow, there are more buildings created by young architects who use parametrics in their design – computer modeling based on mathematical algorithms. These buildings feel dynamic, moving into the future,” the architect believes.

    From his point of view, there is also dynamism in the proximity of cultural heritage sites to modern buildings – this is a hint at the transition from the past to the present and future.

    “On the one hand, it is important when the city has buildings that are reminiscent of past eras. In those distant times, they were also a symbol of progress, and, of course, they need to be restored and maintained. On the other hand, when planning new objects, we always look ahead, asking ourselves: how will they fit into the metropolis in five years? Is it worth building retro-style buildings now just so as not to violate the concept of the street? I admit, I am for contrast. Let old mansions and avant-garde towers stand next to modern houses. After all, the future belongs to the new. Of the old that I see in Moscow now, Stalinist architecture is closest to me: these houses, although built in the middle of the 20th century, seem to be a foundation, a model for creating ultra-modern buildings, they have a sense of monumentality,” says Hussam Shakuf.

    He calls himself a bearer of the avant-garde DNA. At the same time, the architect admits that even in postmodernist projects it is important to take into account the cultural characteristics of the country and the city and organically integrate them into fantastic ideas and new technologies. Such is, for example, the Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku, created by Zaha Hadid Architects: the outlines of its roof reflect the waves of the Caspian Sea, and the swaying flames, referring to the ancient cult of fire that existed in Azerbaijan, and geometric figures – a triangle, a rectangle, a trapezoid.

    A city built with intelligence

    According to Hussam Shakuf, a modern city should be comfortable to live in. However, despite the architect’s commitment to everything modern, he is against a metropolis consisting entirely of roads and cars.

    “It’s healthier to walk. If you walk for 35 minutes, you’ll quickly relieve stress, which means you’ll be happier and more productive. I’d also install smart traffic lights everywhere, which would reduce car traffic,” says our interlocutor.

    Another thing is that the size of Moscow and other world capitals hardly allows for walking. But Hussam Shakuf knows how to solve this problem.

    “Large cities need large multifunctional complexes where people can live, study, work, and have fun, then they won’t have to go anywhere, and the economy of the area where such a complex is built will develop. And this is exactly the concept I call a smart city,” the architect notes.

    He also does not support the widespread launch of air taxis, as is planned in some cities in the future. “This means that passengers will land on roofs and enter buildings from above. What is the point of having a ground floor then? If this is the method of moving around the city that wins in the future, we will have to design buildings completely differently,” says Hussam Shakuf.

    Places for communication

    According to Hussam Shaqouf, the interior structure of a building is what connects architecture with man.

    “I recently worked on a project for a business center for a Chinese smartphone manufacturer in Shenzhen. First of all, I tried to put myself in the shoes of the company’s employees and understand what could inspire them when they come to work. Firstly, it is a view of the city and the Shenzhen Bay, so the walls are glass. Secondly, convenient passages from one tower to another, and you can get into the buildings both from the street and from the interior. Thirdly, spacious rooms where people communicate with each other and drink coffee,” the architect says.

    In his opinion, the most important thing in the interior is accessible and at the same time isolated public spaces. In particular, he would like to build houses in Moscow where the courtyard is at the level of the second floor and is a podium: so residents could walk with their children and talk to each other without being distracted by passers-by and what is happening on the streets.

    “We currently discuss business and personal interests mainly on social networks. But is it really possible to really get to know a person this way? If every home or office had a place to meet with neighbors and colleagues, there would be no need for online correspondence,” Hussam Shakuf sums up.

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