The Hong Kong Police Force have launched a pilot program called the "Small-Scale Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Operational Deployment" to conduct automated and regular high-altitude patrols for crime prevention using drones, local media Wen Wei Po reported on Wednesday. In the first phase, the program will be implemented in the Border District and the Kowloon West Region for a period of three months, officially starting from Friday, Wen Wei Po said. 

The Global Times learned from the HKPF on Wednesday that the program is part of the police's efforts of actively promoting "digital policing" by leveraging technology and streamlining processes to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

The program aims to integrate drones into various aspects of daily policing. This includes the use of automated drone hangars to pre-program flight paths and execute patrol missions autonomously, significantly improving patrol efficiency, the police told the Global Times in an e-mailed statement. 

The drones will also be deployed for high-altitude urban patrols focused on crime prevention and maintaining public safety and order. The primary goal of the pilot program is to harness technology to implement digital policing, deliver high-quality police services, enable more flexible deployment of frontline officers, and enhance overall operational efficiency, the police said. 

Tango Ko, superintendent of police at the key points and search division of the major events bureau, was quoted as saying in a report by the local media RTHK on Wednesday that all police drone operations will be conducted by certified remote pilots.

"Before every drone mission, they will have a comprehensive risk assessment, for example, the takeoff area, landing area and also to decide the flight path. We will make sure that the flight path is away from the pedestrian and also vehicular traffic density," Ko was quoted as saying in the media report. 

To address and alleviate public concerns about potential privacy infringements during drone operations, the police told the Global Times that it will strictly adhere to the relevant guidelines regarding the use of drones including conducting routine patrols primarily for real-time surveillance, focusing only on public areas unless video recording is required for specific investigations.

Surveillance will not cover the interior of private buildings or personal spaces, the police said. 

Also, it is establishing internal protocols to regulate flight missions, including whether recording is necessary and how any collected footage will be handled, and carefully planning flight routes to avoid unnecessary proximity to the public or residential areas.

Secretary for Security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Chris Tang Ping-keung revealed in December 2024 that the police would implement the drone patrol system integrated with artificial intelligence to enhance security services, local media outlet in Hong Kong The Standard reported on December 12, 2024. 

During a Legislative Council meeting, Tang said drone technology is becoming a global trend, saying that the Hong Kong disciplined forces will adopt various strategies to effectively utilize drone technologies in suitable scenarios.

As of May, 700 officers across all police districts are qualified to operate patrol drones as holders of an advanced rating from the Civil Aviation Department, the South China Morning Post reported. Ten officers in the border police district have been trained to operate the automatic drone system, according to the media report. 

In elaborating on China's position on upholding multilateralism and safeguarding multilateral trade rules at the Meeting of BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs on Monday local time in Rio de Janeiro, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said multilateralism is the cornerstone of the international order established after World War II, and solidarity and cooperation represent the greatest common ground of the international community.

Certain countries have developed a seriously distorted perception of the world. The US is vigorously pursuing unilateralism and prioritizing its own interests above the common good of the international community. Although the current international system has underpinned global stability and prosperity, the US, as its greatest beneficiary, is now moving against it, Wang said.

We are witnessing a blatant return to the law of the jungle, where coercion and bullying are no longer disguised, and the very foundations of international relations are under sustained threat, Wang said.

Wang emphasized that safeguarding multilateral trade rules is the most urgent task at present. The essence of trade lies in complementary advantages and mutual benefit, not in calculations of who wins or loses, and certainly not as a tool for serving selfish interests.

The US has long reaped enormous benefits from free trade, yet it now wields tariffs as a bargaining chip to make exorbitant demands on other countries. If we choose to remain silent or to compromise and back down, it will only embolden the bully, Wang noted.

BRICS countries should jointly oppose all forms of protectionism, firmly uphold a rules-based multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core, defend its core values and fundamental principles, and promote the liberalization and facilitation of trade, Wang said.

The return capsule of the Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceship, carrying astronauts Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze, touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Wednesday.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson announces:

At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, President William Ruto of the Republic of Kenya will pay a state visit to China from April 22 to 26.

In response to the US government's announcement of new port fees for Chinese-built and operated vessels, set to take effect in mid-October, which is part of the Trump administration's efforts to revive the US shipbuilding industry and reduce China's dominance in the sector, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Friday that China has repeatedly stated its position on the issue. "I would like to reiterate that imposing port fees and additional tariffs on cargo handling equipment harm the interests of both others and itself. It raises global shipping costs, disrupts supply chain stability, and increases inflationary pressures in the US, ultimately harming American consumers and businesses, without revitalizing the US shipbuilding industry," he said.

"We urge the US side to respect the facts and multilateral rules, immediately cease its wrongdoings. China will take necessary measures to firmly safeguard its legitimate rights and interests," Lin said.

Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun met on Tuesday in Beijing with the visiting Chief of Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force, Zaheer Ahmad Babar. 

Dong emphasized that China and Pakistan are "all-weather" strategic cooperative partners, with their unbreakable friendship having been strengthened by the shifting tides of international dynamics. In recent years, the two militaries have achieved significant progress in areas such as strategic communication, joint exercises and training, and personnel exchanges, he said. 

Dong also highlighted the growing significance of the "Shaheen (Eagle)" series of joint training exercises. China is committed to working with Pakistan, guided by the strategic direction of both nations' leaders, to further strengthen military communication and coordination, deepen practical cooperation across various fields, and jointly uphold regional and global peace and stability, Dong said.

Zaheer Ahmad Babar said that the Pakistan-China relationship is the cornerstone of Pakistan's foreign policy, and Pakistan highly values the traditional friendship between the two countries. As the international situation and geopolitical landscape undergo profound changes, the Pakistan Air Force is willing to further strengthen communication, exchanges, and institutional cooperation with the Chinese side, maintain a high level of joint exercises and training, and make positive contributions to jointly responding to the evolving security challenges, he said.

Leung Chai-yan, the daughter of former Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Chief Executive (CE) and current Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee Leung Chun-ying, was found unconscious on Tuesday evening in an apartment in Shau Kei Wan, Hong Kong. She was 33 years old, according to local media reports in Hong Kong.

Leung Chai-yan was found unconscious in a serviced apartment and was confirmed dead at the scene by paramedics, local media Ming Pao said. 

According to police, at around 10:40 pm on Tuesday, staff at the location reported that a 33-year-old female resident surnamed Leung had collapsed inside the unit. Officers arrived to find her lying unresponsive on the bed, the media report said. 

She was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of death is pending autopsy results, Ming Pao said. 

In a post published on Facebook early Wednesday, Leung Chun-ying said "Chai-yan is gone. Her passing was sudden, without leaving behind a single word — she was simply lying peacefully on the bed. Just a few days ago, she had even taken the initiative to get a flu vaccination."

We are grateful to the police and the forensic team for their investigation, which has ruled out suicide and any suspicious circumstances, Leung Chun-ying said. 

"Thank you to all our friends for your care, understanding, and condolences during this most difficult time for our family," the former CE said. 

Leung Chai-yan was born on September 11, 1991, and she was the younger daughter of Leung Chun-ying, local media HK01 said. 

She studied law at the London School of Economics and Political Science, but took a leave of absence and returned to Hong Kong in June 2013, the media report said. 

On December 9, 2016, Leung Chun-ying announced that he would not seek re-election, citing family reasons. At the time, he revealed that Leung Chai-yan had been hospitalized for more than two months, and he had been visiting and accompanying her for over an hour every night. Finding it physically and emotionally exhausting, he decided to withdraw from the race for a second term, according to HK01.

The Chinese government's position on opposing US abuse of tariffs was released on Saturday. Followed is the full text of the statement.

Recently, under various pretexts, the United States has imposed tariffs on all trading partners, including China, which severely infringes upon the legitimate rights and interests of nations, severely violates World Trade Organization rules, severely harms the rules-based multilateral trading system, and severely disrupts the stability of the global economic order. The Chinese government strongly condemns and firmly opposes this.

These actions violate basic economic laws and market principles, disregard the balance of interests reached through multilateral trade negotiations, and ignore the fact that the US has long reaped substantial benefits from international trade. Using tariffs as a tool of extreme pressure for selfish gain is a textbook example of unilateralism, protectionism, and economic coercion.

Under the guise of pursuing "equality" and "fairness," the US is essentially seeking "America First" and "American Exceptionalism," aiming to overturn the current international economic and trade order with tariff measures, placing American interests above the common good of the international community, and sacrificing the legitimate interests of all countries in service of America's hegemonic ambitions. Such actions will inevitably face broad opposition from the international community.

China is an ancient civilization and a country of etiquette. The Chinese people value sincerity and trust as their core principles. We will not provoke troubles, but we never flinch when trouble comes our way. Pressuring and threatening are not the correct way to engage with China. We have taken, and will continue to take, firm measures to defend our sovereignty, security, and development interests.

China-US economic and trade relations should be based on mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. The US should align with the shared expectations of people from both nations and the people of the world, and, in light of the fundamental interests of both countries, stop using tariffs as a weapon to suppress China’s economy and trade, and stop harming the legitimate development rights of the Chinese people.

As the world's second-largest economy and the second-largest consumer market, no matter how international circumstances change, we will pursue high-level opening-up, expand institutional openness in areas such as rules, regulations, management, and standards, promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, foster a world-class, market-oriented, law-based business environment, and share development opportunities to achieve mutual benefit.

Economic globalization is an inevitable path for the development of human society. The multilateral trade system, with the WTO at its core and based on rules, has made important contributions to the development of global trade, economic growth, and sustainable development. 

Open cooperation is the trend of history, and the world will not, nor should it, return to a state of mutual closure and division. Mutual benefit and win-win outcomes are the aspirations of all people, while economic coercion that pits nations against each other is bound to backfire. The global community shares the responsibility of guiding globalization toward greater openness, inclusivity, equity, and balance.

Development is a universal right of all nations, not the privilege of a few. There are no winners in trade wars or tariff wars, and protectionism offers no way out. All countries must uphold genuine multilateralism, jointly oppose all forms of unilateralism and protectionism, safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core, and protect the multilateral trade framework centered on the WTO.

We believe that the vast majority of countries in the world, which value fairness and justice, will stand on the right side of history and make choices that serve their own interests. The world needs justice, not hegemony!

In response to a media inquiry on remarks made by a Philippine military official that the Philippines would inevitably be drawn into any conflict near Taiwan island, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun urged certain individuals in the Philippines not to play with fire on the Taiwan question, stressing that how to resolve the Taiwan question is entirely a matter for the Chinese people.

Philippine Armed Forces chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. on Tuesday told troops at the Northern Luzon Command to "prepare for any eventuality" such as the "invasion" of Taiwan. He also claimed that "if something happens to Taiwan, inevitably we will be involved," according to Philippine Daily Inquirer on Wednesday.

The Taiwan question is purely China's internal affair and concerns China's core interests. How to resolve the Taiwan question is entirely a matter for the Chinese people. It allows no foreign interference, Guo said.

We urged certain Philippine individuals not to play with fire on the Taiwan question- those who play with fire will get burned. China also firmly opposes baseless, distorted, and inflammatory remarks aimed at smearing China, said Guo.

After police detained two individuals for urinating in a hotpot at a Haidilao restaurant in Shanghai, the top Chinese hotpot chain issued another statement on Wednesday, announcing that for all 4,109 customer orders placed during dine-in services at the affected store over the 13 days under investigation, they will fully refund the meal costs from that day and provide additional cash compensation equivalent to 10 times the order amount.

A recent viral video showing a man standing on a dining table at a restaurant and liquid was seen pouring into a boiling hotpot. Some netizens raised suspicions that the individual was urinating into the pot, according to chinanews.com.

Following the incident, the Huangpu Public Security Bureau in Shanghai issued a statement on Saturday regarding the viral video. Police investigations revealed that on February 24, two 17-year-old males, surnamed Tang and Wu, travelled to Shanghai from other provinces and dined in a private room at the restaurant with others. Both individuals were drunk and proceeded to urinate into the hotpot. Wu then posted a video of the act online.

Two individuals have been detained for urinating in the hotpot at a popular restaurant in Shanghai and posting the video online, said the Shanghai police on Saturday.

Three days later, Haidilao issued another statement via Weibo regarding the incident and announced compensation for customers who dined during the affected time, chinanews.com reported on Wednesday.

In the statement, Haidilao admitted that due to the absence of contingency plans and procedural training for such incidents within management, the restaurant's on-duty team failed to detect the act committed by the two men in a private dining room during their early morning meal on February 24. 

Haidilao apologized to consumers and noted that all 4,109 dine-in orders at the involved restaurant from 12 am February 24 to 12 am March 8 will receive full refunds plus 10 times the order amount in cash compensation, according to the statement.

In addition, regarding the two men involved who urinated in the hotpot, Haidilao has filed a civil lawsuit application with the Huangpu district court in Shanghai on Monday, firmly seeking to hold them accountable according to the law, the statement said.

The restaurant has also replaced all hotpot equipment and dining utensils, including chopsticks, and conducted a thorough cleaning and disinfection process to uphold hygiene standards, according to the company's statement.