3 h. ago Hong Kong student warned AI porn case is ‘not closed’ despite formal apology

A law student at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) has expressed “deep remorse” for using artificial intelligence (AI) tools to create pornographic images of female classmates and has voluntarily withdrawn from an overseas academic exchange programme, according to the institution. In a statement issued on Thursday, its second within five days in response to the controversy, HKU stressed that the warning letter to the student and his formal apology were “not a closure to the case”. “The male...

Events

4 h. ago 22 injured in collision between Citybus and maintenance truck in Hong Kong

A collision involving a Citybus double-decker and a road maintenance truck on the North Lantau Highway in Hong Kong has left 22 people injured. The incident occurred at about 9.20pm on Thursday night on a Kowloon-bound lane near Sunny Bay MTR station. The bus struck the stationary maintenance vehicle, injuring 21 passengers – 12 women and nine men – and the male driver of the truck. The E21A Citybus was on its way to Ho Man Tin. All the victims sustained minor injuries and were treated at the...

Events

4 h. ago Sale of 11 Skies could relieve New World of liabilities in project, UBS says

A potential sale of 11 Skies, a mall located near Hong Kong’s international airport in Chek Lap Kok, could help New World Development (NWD) lighten its debt burden as the developer steps up efforts to divest noncore assets to overcome its worst financial crisis, according to UBS. “Any successful disposal of 11 Skies could be a positive catalyst for NWD,” analysts at the Swiss bank said in a report on Thursday. The project “is embedded with contingent liabilities” of HK$1.8 billion (US$229.3...

Politics

5 h. ago Hong Kong’s MTR Corp halts Oyster Bay station’s overhead cable foundation works

Hong Kong’s rail giant the MTR Corporation has suspended foundation works for the overhead cable at its Oyster Bay station project on Lantau Island due to signs of “upheaving”. The government said on Thursday that movement was recorded at the site two days earlier, prompting staff from the Buildings Department and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department to carry out inspections on the westbound track of the Tung Chung line. “The condition concerned has not affected the structural...

Politics

5 h. ago HKMA dismisses ‘bad bank’ rumours, saying industry remains healthy

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), the city’s de facto central bank, said it had no plans to establish a “bad bank” to absorb troubled debt in the financial system, saying that the local banking sector remained healthy and profitable. “Overall, banks in Hong Kong maintain a healthy balance sheet; their credit risk is manageable and provisions are sufficient,” the authority said in a statement on Thursday. “The HKMA has no intention to set up the rumoured ‘bad bank’. We understand that the...

Politics

6 h. ago Hong Kong’s Cathay says sorry to passengers stuck on plane without air con

Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airways has apologised to the passengers of a Bangkok-bound flight after a technical issue left them stuck on the plane without air conditioning before they were transferred to another aircraft. Social media users claimed it was not the first such incident to involve the plane this week. The airline did not address the concerns when asked by the Post. Cathay Pacific said on Thursday night that flight CX705 was originally scheduled to depart from Hong Kong at 8am, but...

Politics

6 h. ago Hong Kong’s Cathay apologises after tech issues leave passengers without air con

Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airways apologised to passengers twice on Thursday after an aircraft experienced two separate technical issues on the same day, one of which forced passengers to sit on board the plane without air conditioning, causing significant delays to two destinations. Cathay Pacific said on Thursday night that flight CX705 was originally scheduled to depart from Hong Kong at 8am, but was delayed as a result of a technical issue that occurred during boarding and affected the...

Politics

6 h. ago Hong Kong’s Cathay apologises after passengers get stuck on board without air con

Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airways apologised to passengers twice on Thursday after an aircraft experienced two separate technical issues on the same day, one of which forced passengers to sit on board the plane without air conditioning, causing significant delays to two destinations. Cathay Pacific said on Thursday night that flight CX705 was originally scheduled to depart from Hong Kong at 8am, but was delayed as a result of a technical issue that occurred during boarding and affected the...

Politics

7 h. ago Price of ‘easy money’: Hong Kong teens held over alleged illegal debt collection

Two 16-year-old boys in Hong Kong have been arrested for loitering after allegedly being recruited to take part in illegal debt collection, with offers of up to HK$1,000 (US$127) per day. The police said on Thursday that the teenagers were spotted acting suspiciously by an off-duty officer at Po Tat Estate in Sau Mau Ping on Wednesday morning. The officer identified himself and conducted a search, finding documents and tools associated with illicit debt collection. Initial investigations suggest...

Economics

8 h. ago Everything you need to know about this year’s Hong Kong DSE examinations

We have selected eight stories from our coverage of Hong Kong’s Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) examinations. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. ‘Feels like magic’: Hong Kong’s DSE top scorers revel in results – as it happened 2. Hong Kong’s DSE stars praise power of AI, eye local medical degrees 3. Hong Kong DSE 14 years in: best subjects, worst performers and top schools 4. ‘Less stressful’: why mainland Chinese pupils choose Hong Kong’s DSE...

Politics

8 h. ago Hong Kong private patients to pay HK$7,000 for Covid drugs as free supply ends

Patients requiring Covid-19 oral antiviral drugs from private doctors in Hong Kong are set to pay about HK$7,000 (US$892) for a course of treatment, after the government said it would stop providing the medication for free as virus cases had subsided. The Centre for Health Protection said on Thursday that the provision of free drugs would be discontinued on July 29. The arrangement, in effect since April 2022, has led to about 200,000 treatment courses being prescribed for free by private...

Economics

8 h. ago Hongkongers call for more diagonal pedestrian crossings after positive trials

Some Hong Kong residents and district councillors have urged transport authorities to speed up the implementation of diagonal pedestrian crossings in places notorious for jaywalking. The calls on Thursday came a day after the Transport Department released positive trial results from two current sites, Sha Tin and Tsim Sha Tsui, where diagonal crossings were introduced last year. Both saw faster crossing times and underlined the benefits such a system could bring to other intersections, including...

Politics

10 h. ago Hong Kong’s unemployment rate remains at 3.5%, continuing 30

Hong Kong’s jobless rate remained at 3.5 per cent between April and June, continuing the 30-month high set during the previous three month, with authorities warning of an ongoing uncertain external environment and worsening unemployment from more graduates entering the workforce. Preliminary data from the Census and Statistics Department on Thursday showed that the number of unemployed people during the three months was 136,200, slightly higher than 135,800 in the previous three months. “While...

Politics

10 h. ago Disney sues Hong Kong jewellery shop over Mickey trademark infringement claims

The Walt Disney Company has taken a Hong Kong online jewellery shop to court for alleged trademark infringement, accusing the store of misleading consumers into believing that its Mickey Mouse-themed products were sold under an authorised partnership. The lawsuit, filed by the company’s subsidiary Disney Enterprises, Inc. on Wednesday in a district court in California, targets Hong Kong-based Red Earth Group Limited, which operates an online jewellery brand, Satéur. The shop has an office in...

Politics

10 h. ago ChinaAMC launches first tokenised yuan fund amid Hong Kong stablecoin push

ChinaAMC (HK), the Hong Kong arm of Chinese fund house China Asset Management, launched the world’s first yuan-denominated tokenised fund on Thursday, aligning with the city’s regulatory framework for stablecoins, which is expected to stimulate demand for digital assets. While a yuan stablecoin is currently unavailable, mainland Chinese officials have softened their stance on digital currencies and the broader digital asset space. With Hong Kong’s stablecoin ordinance taking effect from August...

Politics

10 h. ago Hong Kong man, 27, arrested for allegedly attacking stepfather with knives

A 27-year-old Hong Kong man has been arrested for wounding after allegedly attacking his stepfather with two knives following an argument in a public rental flat. Police said that they received a report from the man at 1.20pm on Thursday. He informed them of a dispute with his 73-year-old stepfather at their home in Kin On House, Wo Lok Estate, Kwun Tong. “The arrested person was suspected of attacking the victim with two 30-centimetre-long kitchen knives,” the force said. A source said the pair...

Events

12 h. ago Hong Kong 47: court expected to rule on appeals in 9 months’ time

A Hong Kong appellate court is expected to rule in nine months’ time on appeals arising from the city’s largest national security trial, as lawyers wrapped up their verbal submissions on Thursday after 3½ days of hearings. Legal counsel urged three Court of Appeal judges to impose lighter sentences on 11 appellants for what the trial court found to be their “active participation” in a subversive scheme to “undermine, destroy or overthrow” the government. Prosecutors opposed the applications by...

Events

13 h. ago Mind the gap: what Hong Kong students need to know before taking year off

As Hong Kong students receive their results in the city’s two major university entrance exams – Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) and International Baccalaureate (IB) programme – this summer, they face many pressing choices that could shape their future. Most think about where to continue their studies and which courses to choose, while some consider taking a gap year. The Post examines the pros and cons of such an unconventional option. 1. What is a gap year? A gap is a period during which...

Politics

14 h. ago Hong Kong to issue T1 warning on Friday night as tropical cyclone edges closer

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial. The Hong Kong Observatory will issue the No 1 typhoon signal as early as Friday night, with the possibility of raising the warning to No 3 on Saturday, in anticipation of a tropical cyclone that is edging closer to the city. The forecaster said the tropical cyclone was currently located to the...

Events

14 h. ago Hong Kong could issue T8 warning on Sunday as tropical cyclone edges closer

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial. The Hong Kong Observatory will issue the No 1 typhoon signal as early as Friday night and will consider raising the warning to No 8 on Sunday, as a tropical cyclone edges closer to the city. The forecaster said the tropical cyclone was currently located to the east of the Philippines and was...

Events