China-led UN program launched to unlock secrets of oceanic trenches

The UN-approved Global Hadal Exploration Program (GHEP) was officially launched on Sunday in Sanya City in the island province of Hainan in south China, marking a major step forward in international collaboration to study the deepest parts of the world's oceans.

The hadal zone is the deepest region of the ocean, found within oceanic trenches between approximately 6,000 and 11,000 meters below sea level.

Spearheaded by the Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), this global initiative brings together research institutions from more than 10 countries, including New Zealand, Denmark, Germany, and Chile, to shift hadal science from fragmented efforts toward coordinated, systematic exploration.

At the heart of the program is China's full-ocean-depth manned submersible Fendouzhe, or Striver, which enables scientists to descend to the ocean's deepest zones to conduct in-situ experiments, collect high-quality samples, and gather unprecedented data.

"This is a very huge opportunity. For us, it's a real honor and privilege to be part of this program, because we have the Atacama Trench in front of us. The deepest place is over 8,000 meters. There are only two submersibles in the world that can go all the way to the deepest part of the trench. The other one was Limiting Factor from the U.S. And actually, I went down in 2022 with the Limiting Factor, but they didn't have the capacity to do experiments. It was just to go down and come up. So, the Chinese submersible is much more advanced because it allows us to do experiments, collect samples. So for science, it's a much, much, better platform," said Osvaldo Ulloa, a professor at the Department of Oceanography at the Universidad de Concepcion in Chile.

"Using a submersible for hadal science has become this new benchmark. The diving capability of the submersible (Fendouzhe) is unique, is found nowhere else. So, what China is contributing is this technology that nobody really has at the moment. So, we can all of a sudden conduct research that we never could do before. Every time I talk about the fact that I've been on this submersible, people are very keen to do it as well. A lot of excitement, and a lot of new science will be made, and new questions will be addressed. It's very exciting for everyone," said Daniel Leduc, a marine scientist from the Earth Sciences New Zealand.

The CAS first proposed the initiative in 2022. Since then, it has attracted 145 scientists from 10 countries to conduct joint international research cruises, which has reached nine of the world's hadal trenches -- each deeper than 6,000 meters. They have yielded groundbreaking discoveries that are reshaping scientific understanding of these extreme ecosystems.

In June this year, the program received formal endorsement from the Executive Planning Group of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030), officially becoming a UN "Ocean Decade" action.

"We are currently collaborating with Chile, Tonga, and the UK to advance joint manned deep-sea diving expeditions. In the future, we hope to promote more multinational, multidisciplinary manned submersible missions under the broad framework of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, fostering the establishment of a global hadal research center through shared expeditions, data, samples, and equipment," said Du Mengran, director of the deep-sea scientific research department at the Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering. 

China-led UN program launched to unlock secrets of oceanic trenches

John Lee, chief executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), announced on Friday that an independent committee will have nine months to investigate the Wang Fuk Court fire that occurred in late November.

The fire, which erupted on November 26 in Tai Po, has claimed 160 lives as of 16:00 Tuesday, with six people still reported missing, according to authorities.

At a press conference, Lee said the committee will be led by Judge David Lok, chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission, and will also include Legislative Council Finance Committee Chairman Chan Kin-por and outgoing MTR Corporation Chairman Rex Auyeung Pak-kuen.

"Nine months is a very challenging time indeed, but I want to solve the problem as quickly as possible. So I want to give what I regard as a time frame -- realistic -- provided the independent committee is given sufficient means to maneuver, while ensuring the examination is just. They can streamline procedure and be given more flexibility so that they can finish their work within the nine months. And I also have given them a reserve power. That is, if the independent committee considers, by examining all these complicated issues, there may be one which they think, by exercising the powers that is given to a statutory commissioner of inquiry, will help them complete their work, then I'm very willing to consider a recommendation by the independent commission to seek appointing them as the commission of inquiry," Lee said.

Lee noted that the committee's investigation will focus on the causes and circumstances of the fire, and whether systemic issues exist in large-scale building management and renovation projects.

The committee will also examine whether the current regulations and penalties are sufficient in these two areas and will make relevant recommendations. The investigation reports are expected to be made public.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, David Lok stressed the need for fairness and impartiality in the investigation, saying that he would refrain from commenting on the investigation until the committee completes its work.

"During this period, I hope everyone understands that although this is a committee, I am leading this work in my capacity as a judge. Judges must also adhere to certain professional principles, including being fair and impartial. We need to conduct rational analysis based on facts before making any factual judgments or recommendations; we cannot be emotional. Furthermore, we cannot have a pre-established position. In fact, before every judge hears a case, we should ideally start with a blank slate and cannot have a predetermined stance," said Lok.

"So today, if you ask me for my views on certain matters or how we will conduct the investigation, I’m afraid I won't be able to answer as freely as I could when I was at the Electoral Affairs Commission. But I hope all media friends and residents understand that I do not wish to evade questions; it is simply that some questions at this stage are inappropriate for the committee chair to answer. Therefore, during the investigation, I do not expect to speak with you again until our work is completed," he said.

Investigation into Tai Po fire to conclude within nine months: HKSAR chief executive